Page 117 of My Heart Still Beats
I smile weakly. “Yes, they did.”
“See?”
I close my eyes, images appearing in my mind. Of my brown-haired and sparkling-eyed father hoisting me up and playing rocket ship when I was a little girl. Helping me decorate Christmas cookies when Mommy and Nana made them. Holding me and letting me cry into his shoulder when Nana passed away, telling me, “Da will always be here for you, Tessa. Always.”
And when I spent my first weekend at home after college. His face lit up when he saw me, and he captured me in a huge bear hug. And then he asked me the dreaded question. I inhale a deep breath. “I remember one time when I was home for the weekend, I went to Mass with Eva and my parents. My father asked me if I’d been going to Mass at school, and I lied to him. I told him yes.”
Ben chuckles lightly. “I don’t know of any kid who hasn’t lied to his parents.”
I open my eyes. “But that’s not the thing. He looked at me, looked me directly in the eye, and said, ‘Don’t you ever lie to me again, Teresa.’”
“So he knew.”
“He did. He had some sort of sixth sense when it came to me lying. And he didn’t berate me about not going to Mass. What was more important to him was the lie.”
“It sounds like he was an amazing father.”
“He was.” I sniffle, holding back a light sob. “He really, really was. I was closer to him than to my mother, to be honest. I was probably closest to Nana, my mother’s mother, but when she passed away, my father became my rock.”
“Tessa…”
I meet his gaze.
“Please, let’s go inside.”
I shake my head.
Tilt my chin upward.Do you think you’ll ever kiss me?
But the words don’t make it out of my mouth.
Ben moves toward me, closer, as if in slow motion.
And Ben—strong, handsome, wonderful Ben—touches his lips to mine like a gentle stroke of a watercolor brush.
I part my lips, and fireworks shoot through me.
I’ve never waited so long for a kiss, never wanted a kiss so badly, and this kiss lives up to every expectation I had.
He slides his tongue between my lips, slowly at first, but then he deepens the kiss. Our lips cling together, and my breath catches my throat.
He cups both my cheeks.
A face holder.
I love a face holder.
The kiss lingers, and my nipples harden, my pussy pulses.
Feelings I never thought I’d have again, and I’m having them from a mere kiss.
Perhaps it’s because I’ve anticipated it for so long.
It’s perfection.
Such perfection.
Just the kiss…
