Bryce
Her lips were salty from her tears—tears I had caused. But I didn’t ruminate on that, not in this instant, when she opened for me so lovingly. How could I do this to her? Kiss her like this, when I’d leave her again? I had no control around this woman. These thoughts were jumbled in my mind until they became fragmented and shapeless. Feeling replaced them. Pure, raw feeling. Feeling like I’d never experienced, and I knew instinctively I never would again.
She kissed me back.
She was in love with me. She’d said the words. But she didn’t know I was in love with her.
Had I really thought I could resist her? Had I really thought I could live half a mile away from her, work for her brothers, and still never see her?
I deepened the kiss, taking all her sweetness and goodness that I could. Our mouths molded together as though they were one. As if they’ve been made to produce the ultimate kiss.
I kissed her and I kissed her and I kissed her, sliding my lips against hers, my tongue against hers, exploring every crevice of her warm, sweet mouth. How I wished it could go on forever. My cock reminded me that it couldn’t. If I didn’t stop this kiss, I knew where it would head. To a place I’d been before, a place where I wanted more than anything to stay forever….
Still, I didn’t stop the kiss.
I physically could not.
I didn’t have to. Marjorie pushed hard at my chest, causing the suction of our mouths to break.
Her face was red and swollen with tears, the whites of her beautiful eyes bloodshot, her salty lips swollen from the kiss I’d given her.
She’d never looked more beautiful.
I sat like a zombie, no words coming to me. All I wanted in the world was to finish the kiss, to take it to its ultimate conclusion.
“You’re not playing fair,” she said solemnly.
What could I say? She was right.
“I’m going home.” She turned away.
My hand automatically reached out to stop her.
She looked over her shoulder. “Don’t.”
I dropped my arms to my side. Then I watched her walk away from me, loathing myself for hurting her again.
After dinner, I drove to Grand Junction to meet Joe at the dive bar. He hadn’t arrived yet, and I was sorry to see that Heidi—who I’d nearly had a one-nighter with—was working.
“Hey, Bob,” she said.
I waved and took a seat at the bar to avoid her.
The elderly man named Mike sat at the other end of the bar. I waved to him as well. I didn’t think it was an invitation to get off his stool and come talk to me, but apparently he disagreed.
“Good to see you. Bryce, is it?”
“Yeah. I’m just waiting for Joe.”
“I don’t mean to get too personal on you, Bryce, but you kind of look like you just lost your best friend.”
“Not unless Joe doesn’t show up. He’s been my best friend for pretty much my whole life.”
“Woman trouble, then?”
If you only knew. I didn’t say anything.
“Heidi there seems to know you. Bob.”