Fall from Love

sighs, finally releasing me, and I turn over to face him.
    “Hey,” he says.
    Relief shoots through me when I finally see his face, when I see that he’s okay. “I’m so sorry about what I said to you. I’m so sorry for yelling and for leaving and for not calling. I’m—I’m just sorry.”
    He pulls me tight to his chest and rests his chin on the top of my head. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I shouldn’t have waited so long to tell you the truth. I wasn’t sure how to tell you without hurting you and then I didn’t want to lose you.”
    “I was so worried.” My voice is muffled from being buried in his chest. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” I say again and again.
    Leaning back, I look up and meet his eyes, not even realizing the tears have escaped until he wipes them away.
    “I’m here. I’m okay.” He smiles gently and then bends down to kiss my cheek, causing something in me to snap. I am tired of lying to myself, tired of refusing to give my body and my heart what they need and want from him, tired of this charade we have tried and failed at keeping up.
    Reaching up, I press my lips to his. At first there’s some hesitation, or maybe it’s shock, but it doesn’t take long for his lips to fall in sync with mine. He kisses me back hard and with purpose, his tongue diving in and taking complete control of my mouth, of me. He moans when my hands reach up, tangling in his hair, and pulling him down harder to me. He props himself up and his body hovers over mine, positioning me so that I’m lying under him. His hands travel across my chest and trail down my side, finally resting on my hip. My mind is swimming with how good he feels, how good he tastes, but even then, it isn’t enough. I want more. I want to be closer. I need to be closer.
    “Carter.” I pull away, both of us gasping for air.
    “Holly, I’m—that got way out of hand.”
    “No, I don’t want to stop. I want you closer.”
    He looks into my eyes, realizing the need I have burning inside of me. He pulls me tight up against his chest, kissing me again and crushing my body against his, almost to the point of pain.
    A small whimper of frustration escapes my lips. “Closer.”

 
     
    Chapter Twenty-One
     
    You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.
    ~ Mae West
     
    CARTER
    As I pull back and look in her eyes, I realize exactly what she’s asking for and, as much as I want to give it to her, I’m not sure if that’s the right choice. I swallow hard as I scan over her face, seeing the desperation and desire and damn if that doesn’t make me want to give her exactly what she wants. “Holly—” I begin, but she cuts me off.
    “I know what I want. I want you. I want us. Please don’t ask me if I’m sure.” She smiles and softly presses her lips to mine. This kiss is different from our kisses in the past. There’s no urgency with this one; it’s soft, slow and deliberate. There’s a moment when she pulls my bottom lip into her mouth and sucks on it that I almost let things get out of hand. Before they do, I pull away again.
    “Wait,” I breathe. Damn me to hell if we’re going to do this here, right here on this bed, when there’s a bunch of guys out there probably listening to us right now. “Let’s get out of here. We can go back to my place,” I say.
    “No,” she whispers, shaking her head, and I think for a moment she’s changed her mind. “Jenna’s at your place, but we can go to mine,” she finally says.
    I don’t kiss her again because, as strong as I am, I’m not sure I could resist if she kissed me again like she just did. Sitting up and getting off the bed, I turn and take her hand, pulling her up beside me. As bad as I want to, and as much as her eyes are asking me to do it, I still don’t kiss her. I take her hand and lead her down the hall and towards the front door. Paul and Jake don’t say a word to us as we enter the front room, but I can’t help seeing big, stupid grins stretch across their faces.
    The drive to her place takes forever and there’s not a lot of talking between us, but at least the weather gods are on my side since the sky has cleared and the snow has stopped falling.
    I reach my eyes over and catch a quick glimpse of her that makes me wonder what’s going on in her head. Even though a part of me is tempted to ask her, I don’t. I hope she’s thinking this through. I hope she’s analyzing every feeling inside her right now, making sure