Fire Always Burns - By Krista Lakes Page 0,27

bodies, it was all intoxicating to me. My body craved the taste of his lips and I could no longer fight against the craving. I leaned over and kissed him. It was the culmination of years of longing, particularly intense for the last three weeks. I had wanted this so badly, ever since the kiss at the Winter Carnival.

He pulled back a little. "Holly?"

I immediately felt like I had messed up. Before I had a chance to apologize though, he reached out and pulled me into a deeper kiss. It was heavenly. Months of sexual tension flowed between us, as the dam broke and our need for each other spilled out across each other. I kissed back fiercely, my tongue finding his with ease. He moaned, and his breathing quickened. The stubble on his chin tickled me lightly, and I giggled a little as our lips parted.

He wasted no time, grabbing my chin and bringing me in for another kiss. My hand went to behind his neck, and his finger stroked my jawline. My heart pounded within my chest. Andrew, the man of my dreams, was finally allowing my dream to come true. The vow we had made in high school surfaced in my head for a moment, but I quickly shoved the thought back down as I leaned in closer.

Andrew apparently forgot the promise as well. His hand moved from my jaw, down my neck, to my collar. He quickly unbuttoned my long sleeve shirt and pulled it off one arm, then the other. As he revealed the thin white shirt I wore underneath, his hands moved to my sides, holding me tightly. His fingers moved up and down as we shared another long kiss.

He broke from the kiss, and looked down at my body, seemingly for the first time. His hands ventured upwards under my shirt, touching the bottoms of my breasts through the lacy bra that encased them. His eyes met mine again, a look of desire consuming him, before closing them and leaning back in.

The door to the conference room opened. The librarian poked her head in. "Another group has reserved this room, so you students will have to find some other place to make out."

I was so embarrassed that I didn't even correct her to tell her that we weren't students. Andrew and I quickly picked up, throwing the yearbooks back on the re-shelf cart and hustling out the door. I could feel my cheeks burning the entire way out to the car. The cold March wind felt good against my skin, as we ran out into the parking lot.

"Want to come to my place? My dad is out of town," I grinned as I pulled out my keys.

"Race you there," he shouted as he sprinted to his car. I felt a giddy happiness flow through me as I started my car and followed hot on his heels.

Chapter 7

Red and orange demons flickered between the trees, leaving glowing fingerprints on everything they touched. Impish embers soared into the sky, raining down on the unsuspecting tinder below. The fire laughed as it danced among the trees and branches, twirling along the forest floor with devastating footprints.

"I'm pretty sure you cheated," I called out through my window as I pulled into the driveway next to Andrew.

"If anything, you cheated. You know those big red octagons? They're called stop signs. Most people recommend actually stopping at them," he teased as I got out of my car.

"The ones with white borders around them are optional. I'm surprised you didn't know that," I said, bumping my shoulder against him as I moved to unlock the door. I could feel him behind me, and I fumbled with my keys in the lock, his presence flustering me. He leaned his hand against the door frame, his body barely touching mine, but so close I could feel his warmth. I wanted to kiss him again so badly, and I could barely get my key into the door.

I finally slid it in, and heard the latch catch, the door swinging open easily. I turned to look back at him, his hand coming to my cheek and pulling me into a kiss. I stood in the doorway, my knees turning to jello as he pushed his lips into mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck, losing myself to his kiss.

He stopped only long enough to guide us through the open door, kicking it shut with his foot as he enveloped me again. My fingers