Twist of Fate (Taking Chances #2) - Tia Louise Page 0,13

gold accents. The wallpaper matches the bedspread which matches the pillows, almost like they were all drawn together on one sheet of paper. A dark wood table is by the window, and a big white vase holding pale pink flowers like snowballs is on top.

It’s where she wants the chair, and when I put it down, it’s like it was made to go here.

“Did you do all this?” I motion around the room.

“I did.” She grins like she’s waiting for my verdict.

“It’s really nice. I mean, really nice.”

“Really?” She bounces, clapping her hands.

“I can’t believe something this nice is in Fireside.”

With a little squeal, she throws her arms around my neck. “Thank you!”

It’s so unexpected. Her body pressed against mine tightly, her cheek against my jaw. My hands span her waist, sliding lower. Soft lips touch my cheek, and I catch her chin, stopping her movement and covering her mouth with mine.

She doesn’t pull away. In fact, her hands fist in my shirt, and I’m pretty sure she pulls me closer. Her mouth opens, and my tongue invades, sliding along hers, touching, tasting.

Our kiss grows faster, and she exhales a sigh. Her body presses closer, and she feels so good in my arms.

This is what I want. This is what I’ve been craving for so long, her taste, her scent, her touch. It’s been four years, since our first kiss, when she pushed me away and said No.

Now she’s soft and willing. She smells like salty caramel and sweet magnolia blossoms. Moving my lips to her jaw, sliding my tongue along her neck, she tastes like the ocean…

Her breasts are pressed against my chest, and I can feel her tight nipples through the thin fabric of our shirts. I want to devour her. My dick is so hard.

Lifting my head, I meet her eyes, and hers are stormy, hungry. She’s breathing fast, but so am I.

“Yes?” I have to know she’s with me.

Her forehead crinkles, and her eyes wince. In that moment of hesitation, looking into her deep brown eyes, a flash of something crosses my brain, a different path.

I see us standing under an arch in this very pose. I see us walking down the aisle, waving to my brother across a crowd of people we’ve known all our lives.

I see the two of us living in this house, opening my eyes in the morning as the sun shines golden through the windows. Going to bed at night, with the moonlight and stars, with her in my arms. A baby. A lifetime of rituals and family…

Shit.

Denying the boner in my pants, I step back. “We should stop.”

“Oh, my God.” Her fists relax on my shirt, and she tries to smooth the wrinkles.

A knot is in my throat, and I feel like I need to find a bucket of ice water to dump over my head. It’s the most excruciating kind of frustration, but holy hell. I saw my whole future in a flash just now.

With her.

I’ve got to get out of here.

“I’m sorry…” she starts.

“Don’t apologize.”

“Still…” Her voice is pained, almost like she’s feeling the same physical frustration as me. Do girls get blue balls?

Her hands go to her cheeks and she shakes her head, blonde curls bouncing around her ears. “You’re right. It would be a terrible idea… for both of us.”

My forehead is tense, and I scrub it hard. “If you’re all set here, I’m taking off.”

“I shouldn’t have kissed you like that. Please don’t be mad.”

“Not mad.” Holding up a hand, I can’t look at her pretty face.

If I see her lips swollen and pink from my kisses, her messy hair, her small breasts rising and falling under that thin, white tee… I’ll never get this fucking boner to go away.

“I’ll check in tomorrow.”

“You will? Why?”

I don’t stop to answer that. I don’t even know the answer. Instead, I take off down the stairs and out the back door.

Gran’s house is only a few blocks away. This morning, I got up from the breakfast table and walked over to Daisy’s place. This evening, I’m running. I run past Gran’s house, all the way out to the bridge leading to Oceanside Village, the sleepy little town just before you get out to the more touristy part. I don’t stop until I reach the tiny stretch of private beach across the road.

It’s undeveloped and hidden in the trees. It’s just what I need. I need to get my head clear. I’ve got to focus on my goals and