Page 985 of One More Kiss

“Do you not feel the same way?”

“I’ve always felt the same,” he replies. “But I’m not going to do this when you’re so emotionally raw.” He pushes off the bed and marches toward the door. Calling my magic, I send the tendrils toward him and pin the door closed.

Drex turns to me. “Don’t do this. I’m not a toy to be used and tossed aside when it pleases you.”

“I love you,” I tell him. “I’ve always loved you.”

He shakes his head. “You’re trying to distract yourself.”

“Why the hell are you so sure I don’t want this?”

“Because!” he explodes, turning to face me. “If you wanted me, this, then you never would have left!”

I get to my feet and cross the room, coming to a stop before him. “I knew what I wanted. Then and now. I needed to prove to myself that I wouldn’t be a liability for you.”

“A liability?” He narrows his eyes. “Are you fucking serious, Mags? Your more powerful than I am.”

“I am powerful,” I agree. “And you made me feel so safe that I couldn’t discover what I was capable of with you around. I didn’t want to figure it out.”

“And it took you eight years to do that?”

“I was afraid to come back,” I admit. “Because I knew you would have moved on.”

“Moved on.” He snorts. “I passed the time. Soothed the ache. Kind of like what you’re trying to do now.”

It’s unfair, what I’m considering, but I need him to know. To see that I want him—forever. So, I reach down and grip the bottom of my shirt, lifting it over my head and tossing it to the floor. Then, I cross the distance between us.

His pupils dilate, and his nostrils flare as his chest heaves with each heavy breath. “You can hear my heart, can’t you?”

He nods.

“It races when I’m near you. It always has. I want to prove to you, show you that I want a future with you.”

“Because it suits you now.”

“Because I’m no longer afraid.”

His gaze drops to my breasts, and he closes his eyes. I reach up and trail my fingers along the side of his face.

“I am not a gentle man, Mags. I may have been a good kid, but that changed.”

“We both have,” I tell him. “And I want who you are now. Please.”

I’ve thought of his lips on mine more times than I can even comprehend over the years. When we’d been younger, I dreamed of tender kisses, soft touches—but now? I want passion. His mouth feverish on mine, his hands rough, his body entwined with mine.

Love.

I want love.

Drex comes undone. He yanks me against his body and slams his mouth to mine. Lust crashes into me, heat pooling between my legs. I ache for him as I wrap both arms around his neck and hang on. He lifts me, hands gripping my butt as he spins me around and pins me against the door.

His mouth goes to my neck, my jaw. In seconds, my bra is on the floor, and he’s palming my breasts, thumb caressing my taut nipple.

“Fuck, Mags. I—”

“Don’t hold back,” I tell him. “Please.”

He lifts me again and crosses the room, tongue tangled with mine as he lays us back on the bed, not breaking the kiss. I grip the hem of his shirt and pull it up, breaking our kiss long enough for him to continue removing it.