“Aw, damn.” He pushed her away. “You have no idea what you’re doing to me. This is really dangerous.”
“It’s what I want, Chad. What I’ve always wanted.”
“Catie—”
“I never dated in high school. Did you know that? I’ve never even kissed a boy. I wanted you to be the first one to kiss my lips. Do it, Chad. Please.” She closed her eyes.
He groaned. How easy it would be to lower his mouth to hers, to taste those succulent lips. He inhaled, and then unclamped her arms from around his neck.
“This isn’t what you want,” he said.
“I’m eighteen. I know damn well what I want, Chad. I know you want me, too. I can see it in your eyes. Your body language.”
“You don’t know the first thing about body language, Catie.” He stomped across the gazebo, away from her, the loss of her body heat a deprivation he hadn’t expected.
“I do. I feel that you want me.”
“Fine.” He gritted his teeth, clenched his fists. “You’re not wrong. I want you. I want to rip your dress off and take you right here on the gazebo. And if Harper or your dad should walk by, to hell with them. I want to shove my tongue into your mouth, down your throat. I want to kiss your soft skin, your pretty nipples. I know they’re pretty, Catie. I can see ’em through that damn dress you’re wearing. I want to taste every inch of you. Kiss you between your legs until you can’t see straight. I want to shove myself deep inside you. So deep you scream with the invasion.”
Sweat trickled down his brow, tickling him. God, he wanted her. She stood before him, her cheeks glowing with redness, goose bumps on her bare arms.
“See? You’re quivering. I scared you, didn’t I? You’re arousing a man’s feeling in a grown man. And you’re still a little girl. God, you have no idea what you’re doing to me.”
“No, Chad. You didn’t scare me.”
But he had. Her cracking voice gave her away.
“You’re not ready for this. Not ready for me. Some day you’ll thank me for not takin’ what you think you’re so ready to give.” He banged one of his clenched fists against the railing of the gazebo. “Damn!”
Her hands curled into fists and she inched toward him. “I do know what I want, Chad. It’s always been you. Always.”
He held up his hand in a stop motion. “Don’t come any closer, or I swear I won’t be able to resist those cherry lips.”
“That’s okay.” She smiled and closed her eyes, lifted her chin. “I’m legal now. You can have me. All of me.”
Sweet temptation…but no, her body betrayed her words. She wanted him, but fear still gripped her.
He walked away while her eyes were still shut, and he didn’t look back.
The white haze of sleep engulfed him. Catie came to him then, wearing a flight attendant outfit.
“May I fluff your pillow, sir?” she asked, smiling.
He longed to touch her pretty face. He extended his hand, but she smacked him away.
“No,” she said. “Don’t touch me. You did this to me. You. You.”
What? Tears streamed down her soft cheeks. He yearned to offer comfort, but she pushed him away again.
“Look at me. You did this. You did this.”
Chad’s eyes traveled down her body, to the juncture between her legs. Bright red blood stained her white capri pants.
The miscarriage.
“Baby, I’m sorry.” His heart ached with despair as he reached for her.
But his hand touched only air. She was gone.