The Consequence of Secrets - Part Two: A Priest Romance Read Online Free Page B

locked on mine as if he’s trying to decide what to do. But I’m of no help, I’m practically frozen by his gaze, drawn to his movement and completely unable to speak or even think.
    His hand releases mine, and his fingertips run lightly up the length of my arms, up to my shoulders and then to my neck where he slides them into my hair and just holds me there as he moves his head, lightly brushing his cheek against mine before trailing the tip of his nose along my cheekbone, his warm breath tickling until I feel his lips next to mine again. He pauses, and I shake, my mouth opening as I release a gasp, getting so turned on by this display of not kissing.
    I feel as though I may die, and I chase his lips with mine, coming up empty when he drops his chin and keeps that short distance between us, forehead to forehead.
    The noise of the water continues to fill the room, deafening me as I watch his chest rising and falling rapidly as his hands move down to the neckline of my blouse, his fingers trailing along the edge of the fabric, gently brushing along my skin. With his index finger, he presses lightly against the pearl button, rolling around its edge as if daring it to break free. Then he pulls at the fabric around it, and it slides through the hole with a soft pop, causing me to shudder, and for the area between my legs to ache as he reaches just one finger inside and slides it against my chest.
    He rolls his head from side to side, still pressed against mine, and I fight to focus on his features through both my arousal and the sheer closeness of his face to mine. My lips burn, and my body aches. I’ve never felt this; I didn’t even know it was possible to feel like this.
    The next button pops open, and I feel his fingers trail along the curve of my breast above the lace of my bra. His lips brush over my cheek, all the way up to my eye. I can’t stop shaking as his hands move to work my next button open then my next, until my blouse is open to my waist and his hands are feathering across the skin of my quivering stomach. They work their way across my ribs, ghosting over my breasts then feather light again, up to my shoulders where he pushes my blouse off my shoulders, his hands shaking slightly as he slides them down my arms to my elbows then just holds them there. His fingers move lightly against my skin as he takes a deep breath then lifts his head to meet my eyes. They stay there for only a moment before moving down to my exposed body, filled with longing and compassion as he sees everything that I hide.
    His fingers move with his gaze, tracing the different marks on my skin – scars, bites, and bruises in varying shades, as well as cut marks from those early days when I became unhinged. It’s all there, all in front of him for him to see, and he touches every one of them reverently before finally returning to my eyes with tears in his.
    Seeing his expression is enough to send me over the edge. My tears fall. This moment is all too much for me to bear – every moment with him is too much for me to bear. I don’t understand how his touch can have me feeling so undone.
    His hands move again to my face, brushing away my tears, smoothing over my hair as his own tears fall. Then he steps forward and kisses me.
    He kisses me long, slow, and deep, his tongue like velvet against mine, curling my toes, making me weak at the knees, barely able to stand. It’s as if he owns my soul and in this moment. I want nothing more than for him to take me where we stand. I want him to break his vows for me. It’s wrong, I know, but I want to be wrong with him and try to kiss him with enough passion to communicate that.
    Then the lights turn on.

     

Braden
    The overhead lights flicker and light up along the basement roof like a runway, the first signaling a warning that someone is at the base of the stairs. Reacting quickly, I wrap my arms around Emma’s middle and carry her to the corner.
    “Stay here,” I whisper urgently,