Once and Again

Then, finally, he kissed her.

The brush of his mouth against hers was softly persuasive, but Jess didn’t need any persuading. She’d wanted this, wanted him for so long. She slid her arms around his neck, let her fingers sift through the silky hair at the nape of his neck. Her lips parted willingly when he deepened the kiss, her tongue eagerly meeting and mating with his.

She didn’t know how long the kiss lasted. Minutes? Hours? Days? There was no time or place, just an endless spiral of pleasure. And, when he finally drew back, an aching sense of disappointment that it hadn’t lasted nearly long enough.

He exhaled an unsteady breath and leaned his forehead against hers. “You need to tell me to stop, Jessica.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t have enough willpower to walk away on my own.”

She loved him for wanting to make sure it was her choice. Then again, she’d always loved Nick. And loving him meant there was only one choice to make.

She met his gaze evenly, spoke clearly. “I don’t want you to walk away.”

He kissed her again, then lowered her onto the soft grass under the stars.