Page 59 of Freedom's Kiss
Her stomach hardened, then congealed, unable to remain solid when he stood not a foot away. She pinched at the seam of her shirt at her sides. “I’m not joking, Adam. Tell me why.”
He took a step forward, and she matched it with a step back. The teasing tilt to his lips fell, a small trace of exasperation taking its place. “What exactly do you want me to say?”
“Why. Did. You. Kiss. Me.” She wanted to run and hide and pretend this whole thing hadn’t happened, but she couldn’t. Southern Charmwas her only chance at making her dreams come true,and she wasn’t going to throw that away simply because she’d let her feelings get away from her. So she’d have to face it head on. Make him see that he couldn’t kiss her to make her feel better, no matter how good that plan had worked. Lifting her chin, she pressed for an admission. “Did you kiss me as a means of comfort?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Ugh!” She threw her hands up in frustration. “Comfort. You know, consolation, sympathy, solace. Is that why you kissed me?”
His grin returned in full force. “Is that how it felt for you? Because let me tell you,comforthas never felt so invigorating, so wild, sorightin my entire life.” He did that deep, searching thing with his eyes again, finding the spot far within her that she hadn’t even known existed.
“No, sweetheart, I didn’t kiss you out of sympathy. I’d never kiss a woman out of such selfless motives.” He moved forward, and this time his highly focused, steady look rooted her feet in place. “I kissed you because I wanted to. Just like I said. Just like I’ve wanted to for days now.” He leaned down and planted a peck on the top of her nose.
“But—”
He placed a finger over her lips. “If you ask why again, then I’m going to have to stop your questioning with a more effective means than an explanation.” The pressure of his finger lessened, and he trailed it along her bottom lip with a wink. “On second thought, ask away.”
