crazy. She was so damn sexy. Hours passed and we continued to kiss on the couch. The last time I did this, I was in high school. I hadn’t had sex yet so I didn’t realize how boring kissing was in comparison. But I loved doing it with her. It was the most intimate moment I ever had with someone else. I felt her heart beat against mine, almost in sync. What the hell was happening to me? At three in the morning, her lips finally stopped moving against mine. The muscles in my mouth were strained and tired. My lips were chapped. But I didn’t want to stop. I could kiss her forever. I’ve never been with a sexier woman. I moved off her then lay beside her on the couch. She immediately cuddled into me, her head on my shoulder and her arm around my waist. When her leg wrapped around my waist, her dress moved up. All I had to do was look down and see her underwear. I wondered if she was wearing a thong or a bikini cut. What color was it? What fabric? In my peripheral vision, I saw the distinct purple color. Athena sighed and held me tighter. Her eyes were closed. I could indulge myself and stare all I wanted. She wouldn’t notice. She was probably so tired she didn’t realize her ass was sticking out. I stared at the ceiling for a long time, fighting the battle of my perverseness. Without looking, I finally reached down and tugged her dress, trying to cover her virtue. But with the way her leg was bent, it couldn’t be done. I spotted the blanket on the back of the couch then placed that over her waist. Now I couldn’t see a thing. Damn. A beautiful sigh escaped her lips. Her face relaxed when she was asleep. Her hair was in disarray from our kiss-fest. Even though I was exhausted and had work in the morning, I was too mesmerized by her face to look away. She was more perfect than any of her paintings. She was better looking than all the models I’d been with. I don’t know how long I stared at her. Maybe another hour. Her breathing was slow and quiet. She hardly moved, but her body was still wrapped around mine. I never cuddled with other people. It was too uncomfortable, too intimate. But I loved doing it with her. I felt the pain in my heart the longer I stared at her. The sensation couldn’t be described. I was happy but I was also in pain. Something about havin g her in my arms made me feel sensations that were novel. It felt so good, it hurt. Something very odd happened. I suddenly had the urge to do something I’ve never done before. I saw Cash do it to Prudence countless times. Or couples at the park when they lay on a blanket in the sun. I saw mothers do it to their children. It was a universal movement but each had different degrees in meaning. But I knew what I meant. I cupped her face then pressed my lips to her forehead. The touch burned more than her lips did. I closed my eyes and released the breath from my lungs. It stung on the way out. My heart stopped for just a moment in time, making me feel faint. Athena took a deep breath then opened her eyes. My lips were still pressed to her forehead. I pulled away then lay beside her, realizing I’d just been caught. I didn’t know why I did it. It just happened. The look in her eyes was different than it had ever been. A slight coat of moisture was in her eyes. It shined and reflected the light from the kitchen. A look of wonderment overcame her face. It was a beautiful sight. She grabbed my face and gave me a gentle but sweet kiss. The fiery blaze was still there but different. My heart hurt again. When Athena broke the kiss, she tightened herself around me even more. And I heard the distinct sound of a sniff.
Chapter Ten ♬ Athena Riley Every guy I’ve ever dated has been a jerk. I questioned whether they really cared about me. I was ju st there to be used, a stepping-stone to the next best thing. Guys dated me then found their wife afterwards, their happily ever after. I seriously doubted I’d ever get mine. Then Jasper convinced me