Page 101 of My Heart Still Beats
Something is still eating at her. It could be the same trauma she’s been struggling with, but I have a feeling it’s something else. Something different.
Or I may be completely wrong. As much as I want to know Tessa, I really don’t. At least not yet.
I approach her. “Hey.”
“Hi, Ben. I can’t thank you enough for today. First the cold plunge, and especially the horseback riding. It was all so… Just thank you.”
“My pleasure.” I resist the urge to touch her. “You doing okay?”
She takes a sip of water. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
I shrug. “Just making sure.”
“I got back to my suite after our excursion and found a string of texts from Skye. She wanted me to go for a massage with her.”
“Sorry you missed it.” I stretch my arms over my head.
“Don’t be. I’m not.”
I rub the back of my neck. I’m a little stiff from the horseback ride. “I haven’t had time to get a massage here.”
“Didn’t you say you have a full-time massage therapist at home?”
I take a sip of bourbon. “Yeah.”
She rolls her eyes. “You’re so not the diva type.”
I laugh, then. Erupt into laughter, actually. “You know so little about me, Tessa, but you’re right. I’m not a diva. But do you know why I keep a full-time trainer and massage therapist at my home?”
“Because your life is so stressful?” she says, her tone a bit sardonic.
Oh, she has no idea. But that’s not the answer I’m going for. I got over apologizing for my good fortune years ago. So I shake my head. “Because Ican.”
That actually gets a smile out of her. “I’ve had more massages this weekend than I’ve had in the last year.”
“You only had one massage in the last year?”
“Yeah. I won a raffle at work—my old work—for a massage and facial. It was heavenly.”
“Tell you what,” I say. “You can come to my place whenever you want and I’ll make sure you get a massage.”
She shakes her head. “Right.”
I gently touch her shoulder. “You’re going to find, Tessa, that I never say anything I don’t mean.”
She cocks her head, this time not smiling. “So you were serious when you said you wanted to kiss me?”
Is she kidding? “Of course I was serious. I still am. But I won’t until I’m certain you’re ready for it.”
She tilts her chin up slightly, moves a step closer. “What if I tell you I’m ready for it now?”
My cock reacts—whether to her nearness or to her words, I’m not sure. Probably both.
Her lips are pink and shiny and slightly parted. I could so easily slide my own over them, touch my tongue lightly to hers.
I lean toward her, licking my own bottom lip.
This is it. I’m going to kiss her. I’m going to kiss Tessa’s beautiful lips.
