I had hoped my shower would have taken the edge off, but it only made matters worse.
“I’m fine. It’s just been a long day.” A hard day… a very hard day.
Amelia finishes her food and insists on going to watch her favorite show. With permission, she scampers out of the room, leaving Ember and me alone.
“Any particular reason the day was long?” Ember asks as she reaches across the table to clean up.
“Let me get those,” I insist.
Our hands reach for the same plate. Our fingers brush against each other. The touch appears innocent, but it isn’t, not for either of us.
Her eyes meet mine.
Once again, we find ourselves in the same place. Together. Wanting. Needing.
Is this ever going to end? Will I ever stop wanting her?
There’s only so much a man can take before he snaps. Her tongue darting out and wetting her lips, that’s it for me. Making my way around the table, still holding her hand, I cup her face with my free one.
“I’m sorry,” I apologize preemptively for what I’m about to do and hope she forgives me.
The kiss feels like the last thing anyone should be sorry for. It’s amazing and perfect… and not enough. It only makes me hunger for more.
“We can’t.” Her hand presses against my body as she pulls away. “We shouldn’t.”
I kiss her again. God, I’ve missed her.
With the strength of a saint, she pulls away. We stand there out of breath and unsure of where to go from here. We’ve both been fighting so hard, yet it feels like a losing battle.
Looking into her eyes, I panic. “This was a mistake.”
Ember opens her mouth to speak, then snaps it shut again. The sting of the words and the pain they cause radiate from her.
“I want you more than my next breath, but I have to think of Amelia.”
She nods in agreement. “I know.”
I hate that I hurt her. All I want is to make it go away.
“Ember…”
She shakes her head and turns on her heel to leave the room.
CHAPTERTWENTY
Ember
Since the kiss to end all kisses in the kitchen, I’ve done my best to avoid Ryder. It’s only been a few days, but I already miss him. The ease, the happiness, the fun.
Everything was going well until we kissed. The past had managed to stay in the past, except for the fantasies that ran through my head at night and in my dreams. We were getting along, spending time together, and having fun without so much as an awkward incident.
Until tonight.
Now, I don’t know what to do.
Looking at the man sets my body on fire. Spending time with his daughter makes me think things—want things—that aren’t possible.
So tonight, the moment I heard Ryder’s SUV pull into the garage, I bolted for my room. No time like the present to get some laundry done. There’s a knock at my door, and my body stills. There are only two other people in the house, and there is no way that little Amelia is hitting the door with that much force. That leaves Ryder. It also leaves several dozen butterflies fluttering in my belly.