Page 68 of The Deal Breaker
Why had they waited so long to do this?
Because this was as close to heaven on earth as she’d been, and she didn’t want the feeling to end.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Why had they waited so long to do this?
As they kissed, Dash soaked in the taste of Iris. Not even the beer masked her sweetness. It was better than any dessert she’d made for him and his new favorite flavor that could easily turn into an addiction of the best kind. One he wouldn’t mind.
He moved his lips over hers.
Soft.
Holding her, kissing her, was overdue. He enjoyed the peck the other night, but he was loving this slow, hot kiss. Nothing had ever felt so right, no kiss as satisfying, and he wanted to keep touching and tasting her for as long as he could.
Mine.
I want her to be mine.
He remembered their almost-kiss years ago. For someone so smart, he’d made a terrible decision when they were younger because they could have spent all this time kissing.
How perfect would that have been?
Dash tightened his hold on her as if they could stay like this forever.
Forever friends.
His neck prickled. Something that had nothing to do with Iris’s lips against his. He lowered his hands and slowly backed away from the kiss, even though he wanted to continue.
She was flushed and breathless. Her pupils were dilated.
His heart stuttered. His pulse revved faster.
He’d never seen her look so gorgeous.
Dash touched her cheek, softly, tentatively, wanting to memorize every part of her face. He also needed to remind himself he wasn’t dreaming. This was real, and her lips belonged against his. But before he could kiss her again—he really wanted to do that again—they needed to talk. To make sure they both understood what was happening.
Beyond the kissing.
Because their friendship was the most important—most valuable—thing to him. “Hey.”
As Iris stared up through her eyelashes, she moistened her lips.
It was all Dash could do not to kiss her again.
Focus, Cabot.“Thanks.”
The word was inadequate. It was all he had because “Stay with me for the rest of eternity” didn’t seem appropriate.
“You’re welcome?” She sounded unsure.
I feel the same way.
Dash started to speak and then stopped himself. Kissing her again would be so much easier than talking. He lowered his hand. “This is harder than I thought it would be.”
She half laughed. “I suppose after a toe-curling kiss we should expect a little awkwardness.”
His breath hitched. “Your toes curled?”
