He hid back a smile, aware I was teasing him by trying to lighten the mood for a second. I’d take what I could get from him. I was surprised he even told me that much. If I thought my feelings for him were confusing before, his confession only added to the emotions I wasn’t prepared for. That night was the first time I’d learned how complex Tristian Hawkins truly was.
Except, it didn’t end there.
In one swift motion, he leaned in close to my mouth and rasped, “I’m going to kiss you now.”
With parted lips, I watched as his mouth pecked mine.
Slowly.
Softly.
He kissed me for the first time.
All the fight in me was gone as if it was never there to begin with.
His lips were smooth.
His scent was intoxicating.
It was the most overwhelming yet consuming feeling I’d ever felt in my entire life.
My heart drummed so fast.
So intense.
So needy for him.
When my body went lax, he sought out my tongue while pulling me closer to him with his hand on the nook of my neck. No words could come close to describing what was happening between us at that moment. The sensations he stirred matched my emotions with each stroke of his tongue.
A soft moan escaped my lips as my tongue touched his, leaving me breathless and wanting more. Incoherent thoughts ran rampant through my mind. Nothing made sense. However, at that moment, I didn’t care. I fell for whatever spell he’d put me under. Loving the way he tasted.
My core clenched.
My chest heaved.
My heart…
It beat for him, exactly how he intended it to.
From that day forward, he’d have this hold over me I couldn’t control nor deny. All that mattered to me was how much he’d let me into his life. Tristian became this addiction I couldn’t stop. I knew he was bad for me, but there was no denying the connection we shared.
Trust me, I tried.
Before he gradually pulled away, he kissed me one last time with the stroke of his tongue. My eyes must have closed at some point because they fluttered, finding him grinning at me.
I swallowed hard, unable to move or say anything. Not when the expression on his face made me feel like I was the only girl in the world. Having Tristian’s attention was as addicting as having his affection. They both went hand in hand for me. And like a feign already hooked, I wanted more.
As if reading my mind for what felt like the hundredth time, he stared deep into my eyes and groaned, “You have no idea what you do to me…”
I sassed, “You have a crappy way of showing it.”
“Don’t worry, kitten. I know you don’t hate me. You just think that you have to.”
Was he right?
“Is that why you bully me? So I’ll hate you?”
“Is this what you call bullying, Belle?”