Craving Temptation by Deborah Fletcher Mello Page B

and sat down on the bed.
    Her own breathing was raspy as Amina gasped for air. Still lying back, she drew her knees to her chest and rolled onto her side, then pulled her arms up over her head. Troy’s touch had ignited something deep in her core, something she knew only he could quench. His touch had felt too good and she fathomed that something that good couldn’t possibly be right for either of them. She blew a deep sigh.
    Troy drew a large palm across her back, his hand coming to rest against her hip. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean . . .” he started. There was a moment of hesitation before he suddenly shook his head vehemently. “No, I’m not sorry. I wanted that. I want you. I’m not going to apologize for how I feel about being with you, Amina.”
    Amina took a deep breath and blew another sigh past her lips. She rolled back against him, her eyes lifting as they connected with his. “What’s happening with us, Troy?” she said as she fell into the look he was giving her. “This just feels too . . . well . . .” She stammered, searching for the right words to express what she was feeling. When she couldn’t find one she looked to him for help.
    â€œIt feels amazing,” Troy finally answered. “I feel complete when I’m with you, Amina, and when you’re not there I feel like something important is missing. I feel lost. Every night when we talk all I want to do is pull you through that damn phone and wrap myself around you. I think you must be a witch or something because you definitely have me under your spell.”
    Amina laughed. “That’s exactly how I feel about you.”
    He met the look she was giving him, his eyes locking with hers as he sighed, warm breath blowing past his full lips. Troy lay back against the mattress and eased his body alongside hers. He curled himself against her backside as Amina snuggled her hips and buttocks against the rise of nature in his pants. With her softness nestled nicely against his hardened muscles he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her even closer. He snuggled his face against her hair and pressed a damp kiss to the back of her neck. Amina purred softly and the lilt of it was like music to his ears.
    â€œSo what do we do about this?” Troy asked.
    Amina shrugged, gently beating her head against the mattress. “I don’t know,” she finally responded. “I really don’t know. But I do think we may need to slow things down.”
    â€œWhy?”
    Amina wiggled her buttocks against him, his hardened member rolling against her backside. “That’s why,” she whispered ever so slightly.
    â€œDoes that make you uncomfortable? You know it only happens because you excite me, Amina.”
    â€œAnd you excite me too, but . . .” She hesitated.
    She and Troy had already had a conversation about her convictions. He understood that she wasn’t ready to take their relationship to the next level. The moments they’d spent alone had gotten heated beyond measure and Amina had needed to stall the desire that consumed her. Being with Troy, his hands painting heat across her bare flesh, had made her reconsider her beliefs, her body wanting to give in to the desire he so easily elicited from her. She appreciated that Troy never pushed her for more because if he had she knew she would have given in. She had wanted him that badly. She still wanted him, unable to think of little else. Troy echoed the sentiment.
    â€œI want you, Amina. I’m not going to hide that. Not from you. But you have to want me just as much and the time has to be right for both of us,” he said as he snuggled her closer to his body.
    He continued. “Sex is an expression of love and one without the other is incomplete. When we do make love, Amina, you’ll know how much I love you and I’ll know that you love me back.”
    Tears sprung to her eyes. “I