Page 112 of Nothing to Tell

Bastian.

“Look at me, Sweet,” he growled, his breath fogging her forehead.

She blinked up.Darkness hovered around him, closing in, somehow shrinking the world.He lowered himself within reach of her mouth, eyes probing hers just before he joined their lips.

Visceral memory flooded her body with a rush of heat.

This.

Him.

Bastian kissed her with an urgency that slammed her with another memory.Walking out of his office had been the longest, most difficult trek of her life.

Leaving was right.Ending their agreement was the logical, honorable thing to do.

His arms swept around her, stretching her to the very tips of her toes to hold her close, trapping her between him and the wall with a grip so strong, her ribs hurt.When his tongue touched her lip, she opened to welcome its arrival.Her own urgency translated to her fists locking in his hair, holding him right where she needed him.She wasn’t done.This could be the last chance she had to do this.Not kissing him goodbye in his office was one of her biggest regrets.

And why hadn’t she?

Because that kiss would’ve become this: desperation.

THIRTY-EIGHT

PANTING, SHE TORE her hands from his hair to urge his mouth from hers.“Wait…”

How did they fall back into this without skipping a beat?

He kissed her again.“No.”

She pushed back.“Knight—”

“I missed you,” he groaned.“I’ve missed you so goddamn much, Sweet.”

“What is happening?We can’t—we can’t do this,” she whispered, ducking away from his approaching mouth again.“We broke up.”

“We didn’t,” he said, relaxing a little to stroke her hair.

“We did.Let go.”

“We didn’t get started,” he said.“I want to, we need to… We’re starting now.”

“What are you talking about?”Had he fallen and hit his head?Was this a time warp?“Our lives have moved on.I have Donnie and will never measure up to Audine.”

“This is our first date.”

“See,” Harper said.“Give her a chance.This could be the real thing for you, no more pretending.”

“Have you slept with him?”he asked.“Answer me.”

“No,” she said, hands dropping to his shoulders.“Of course not.”

“Don’t.”

“What?”

“Don’t let him into your bed.”

“You don’t have to worry about me,” she said, stroking his jacket.