Page 104 of Burning Embers
His lips are soft against my own, and his five o’clock shadow abrades my skin in a way that has pleasure coursing through me.
How many times have I imagined kissing Grayson?
Way too many. I lost count after fifty.
One of his hands settles on my waist, while the other tangles in my hair, wrapping it around his wrist. He tugs, and the pleasure-pain combination sends arousal spiraling through me.
Oh. My. God.
Oh my god.
Grayson Grey is kissing me.
And…
He shouldn’t be.
Common sense returns to me, and I place both of my hands on Grayson’s chest. But instead of tugging him closer—as I so desperately want to—I push him away. As expected, Grayson moves without prodding, his eyes hooded with unfettered desire.
The sight lights me up inside.
No. Bad, Izzy! Stop this.
“You can’t do this to me.” My voice is practically a croak.
His eyebrows furrow. “What?—?”
“You can’t kiss me like you care for me. That’s not fair.” God help me, tears actually prick the backs of my eyes and spill over. I brush them away angrily.
Grayson appears confused as he takes a step closer. “I do care for you?—”
“Not like that.” I shake my head. “Not the way I want you to.”
“I don’t understand?—”
“Grayson, you have agirlfriend. You can’t kiss me when you’re with someone else. It’s not fair to her or to me. I’m not some fucking mistress?—”
“I never said you were!” Grayson hurries towards me and grabs my biceps.
Despite the urgency in his tone, his touch remains gentle. Soft. He holds me like I’m something precious and delicate, something immensely valuable. I can’t decide if I hate it or love it.
“Izzy, listen to me. I don’t have a girlfriend?—”
“Now you’re lying to me?” I stare at him incredulously.
How can this be the same guy who once held me in his arms for hours, just so I could get to sleep and not be plagued by nightmares? The same guy who sat outside my bedroom door when I was afraid of what my foster brother would do to me? I don’t recognize him now.
That Grayson wouldneverlie to me.
“I’m not…” He runs a shaky hand through his dark hair. “Fuck! Okay, yes. I have a girlfriend, but it’s not what you think. Izzy, you have to believe me. Things are more complicated than?—”
“What’s complicated about this?” I demand. “You have a girlfriend. And you can’t kiss me when you’re with someone else. Are you saying you’re breaking up with her?”
His eyes darken with what appears to be anguish. “I can’t. But as I said before, it’s not what it seems. I wantyou.”
“Oh, fuck off, Grayson.” I slap his hands away from me.
“It’s the truth,” he says through clenched teeth. “You’re the only girl I love?—”