Page 64 of Forsaken Trail (Runaway 4)

I put my palm over her knuckles. “I’m sorry too.”

It had taken me a long time not to feel like the cause of my mother’s downfall. It had taken me well into adulthood to realize that she’d made her own choices. Still, at a young age, I’d seen the mess that was her life. I’d recognized the difference in my mother’s lifestyle compared to mothers of friends from school. And I’d felt responsible. My birth had been the trigger.

But I hadn’t been the one holding the gun.

She’d made her choices. She’d died because of them.

“Thank you for telling me,” Aria said.

“You’re welcome. One day, I’d like to know your story too. If you’ll share it with me.”

Aria dipped her chin. “I will. But not tonight.”

“There’s no rush. I’ll be here when you’re ready.” I stood and took our empty dishes to the sink, rinsing them out and putting them in the dishwasher.

When I was done, I turned, just as Aria’s gaze flicked up. She’d been staring at my ass. And the lust in her eyes was unmistakable.

“You can’t look at me like that,” I pleaded.

She swallowed hard. “I can’t help it.”

I knew the feeling.

My feet carried me across the kitchen, right to her space. I stood above her, staring down into those beautiful brown eyes, and let myself drown.

“I told myself earlier I wasn’t going to make this a habit. That I couldn’t let you kiss me again.” Her hand snaked up my stomach, her palm rising to where my heart was beating out of my chest. “But what if we did?”

A pained groan escaped my throat. “I want you. I fucking crave you, Aria.”

She flipped open a button on my shirt. “Then you’d better kiss me again.”

Chapter Twelve

Aria

Holy sweet Jesus, this man could kiss.

Brody swept me off the stool the moment his lips seared mine. The energy, the anticipation, the longing was like climbing to the top of a peak and jumping off into the abyss.

Was this a mistake? Was this reckless? Yes, on both counts, but I wasn’t going to stop, and as Brody carried me from the kitchen, I knew he wasn’t going to either.

“God, you taste good.” He latched on to my pulse, licking and sucking the skin at my throat.

I held on to his shoulders and closed my eyes, savoring the wet heat of his tongue as his strides hastened toward the staircase. Since moving in, I hadn’t ventured to the second floor much. I’d done my best not to snoop more than once or twice on his side of the house, deciding it was best to stay away from that invisible boundary.

Brody crashed right through it and, much like the night of the wedding, carried me toward his bedroom.

His hands held me tight with a grip under my ass. He peppered my jaw with a trail of kisses before breaking away to climb the steps. His green eyes were dark with hunger. His face was like granite, nearly unreadable. Except I’d seen this look before. The last time he’d carted me to his bed.

This was Brody on a mission. He was all business. Serious. Stoic. I grinned, because I also knew how quickly he’d flip the switch and become the sensual lover. Last time, it had happened before my dress had pooled to the floor.

Brody took the stairs two at a time, even with my legs wrapped tightly around his hips.

My chest heaved as I tried to regain my breath. The heat between us was like standing in the middle of an active volcano.

We reached the landing and Brody jostled me, hoisting me higher so that my center pressed against his zipper. A whimper escaped my throat. My core was drenched and aching. The throb in my body vibrated from my bones, shaking me from skull to toe.