Page 65 of Fresh Canvas
I knew, in that moment, that my island of loneliness was already long gone. My racing heart filled my veins with blood.
Withlife.
I feltalive. I hadn’t died with Stella.
Life in technicolor now stretched before me. No matter what the outcome, whether Amantha reciprocated these terrifying, exhilarating feelings or not, I would always thank her for that. But in this awe-filled moment, I knew it was time to move on.
So I turned, careful not to upset the hand that was still in her possession.
My heart hammered wildly at the decisive line I was about to cross. With my free hand, I used my scorching fingertips to catch her chin, angling her beautiful face up to mine. Leaning closer, I searched deeply inside those silver flames.
Amantha’s startled breath mingled with the whisper from my lips.
“Isthisokay?”
Amantha trembled, though the intensity of her stare didn’t waver. “Yes.”
The hushed word had barely crossed her lips before mine were on hers, surrendering completely.
eighteen
AMANTHA
Iburned as flames engulfed me. Blistering passion erupted between the two of us, and I wasn’t sure if it belonged to me or Val. Heat flooded my eyelids and fanned throughout my body. Every nerve ending was ablaze. Val’s mouth slanted over mine as though a buckling dam of restraint had finally broken inside of him.
And then, I was drowning. A whirlpool threatened to pull me into oblivion, swirling me down into its depths.
I kissed Val back as though his lips were my only supply of oxygen, the key to my survival. My own dam of self-control had shattered, the floodgates of my longing sweeping over us both.
A pillow cushioned my head as Val lifted and repositioned me on the bed. Taking advantage of my parted mouth, he deepened the kiss. My soul almost left my body.
I slid my hands onto his face and relished the rough prickle of his stubble as he continued to kiss me. His full, soft lips pressed against mine, again and again, and I hoped he would never stop. I was suddenly aware of how much I wanted this.
Wantedhim.
This complex, irritating,deliciousman somehow madecomplete sense. Who would have thought? At first, his harsh criticism and bitter demeanor had been about as attractive as a cactus and just as cuddly. But now?
I could see right through him. It had only ever been a facade. A protective mirage. And for whatever reason, Val had invited me past it. He allowed me to see his scars and hadn’t shied away when I showed him mine.
But shouldn’t this feel terrifying?
I dug deep into my gut, searching for the wrenching fear Ryan had left there. For the sense of abandonment and anxiety that haunted me since seeing him on the crosswalk.
They were nowhere to be found. Instead, an overwhelming sense of protection seemed to radiate from Val’s embrace. I felt safe. Adored.
Val was nothing like Ryan.
This flame between us, the one I had denied for so long—buriedfor so long—had continued to burn brighter and brighter until I couldn’t ignore it. I was falling for this man, this version of Val that felt entirely new. The one who accepted me, baggage and all.
Armed with that knowledge, I tore down my remaining walls and dove headfirst into the fall.
Val’s predatory kisses continued to devour me. His full lips tugged and pressed into mine until I could focus on nothing else. Val tasted like coffee, his kiss more potent than any amount of caffeine. The effect he had was intoxicating.
The heat from Val’s hand seeped into my Vikings jersey as he gripped my waist. My eyes flew open as his teeth grazed my jawline and down onto my neck. A gasp escaped me, and Val growled in response, continuing in his explorative kisses.
My fingers grasped his shoulders, irritatingly aware that his shirt was still wet with rainwater.
“Ugh,” I breathed between kisses. “You’re. Still. Damp.” I attempted to open the top buttons of his stupidly formal shirt.
