The Next Move Read Free

thoughts ran through her mind, but there were no words to express them. Instead, she put her hand over his on her face. His fingers separated just slightly, letting hers sink between them, her own fingertips cool against her face compared to the heat of his.
    Are you going to kiss me ?
              Drawing an unsteady breath, she moved towards him, willing herself to stay upright as she ventured into the tense, electrified space between them. She stopped, leaving it up to him to come closer. When he did, he slid a hand over her hip.
              You’re going to kiss me, but when ?
              She put her arm around his waist, as much for stability and support as for closeness.
              Chris, kiss me .
              He tilted his head slightly and leaned towards her, slowly, but stopped.
              Kiss me .
              With his chest touching hers, she wondered if he felt her heart pounding.
              Kiss me .
              When he spoke, his lips were almost close enough to hers to touch. "Kat…"
              "Chris, I—"
              "Checkmate."
     

 
     
     
     
     
    Two
     
              Before the word even registered in her mind, his lips were against hers.
              Immediately, she wanted to taste and explore his mouth, but even the gentle touch of his lips was too intense. She parted her lips, inviting his tongue, then brought them back together, then parted them again. I want more. This is too much. I want everything you’ll give me. I can’t handle this .
    The hand on her face started towards her hair, and her own hand fell from his, landing on his forearm. Desperate to touch him, she let his arm serve as a pathway, guiding her hand to him as she fumbled blindly through the confusion that served as her conscious mind’s last defense against understanding that this was really happening. Her hand found the warmth of his face and her fingers registered the movement of his jaw a heartbeat before his tongue parted her lips.
    His mouth tasted vaguely of wine, but it was the realization that it was Chris’s tongue against hers that sent a shiver up her spine.
    This is really happening .
              He broke the kiss, resting his forehead against hers as his fingers tangled in her hair. "Jesus, Kat…"
              He brought his chin forward to kiss her again, but pulled back a second before their lips met. Closing his eyes, he swallowed hard before releasing an unsteady breath. He made no effort to push her away—in fact, he still held her close to him—but he avoided her mouth.
    "Kat, I want to kiss you again." He was breathless, his
    voice was tinged with frustration. "I want to so bad, I…"
              "Kiss me again." Please. Chris. Please, kiss me again . His fingers moved in her hair and she realized his hand was trembling. "Chris…"
              "If I do," he paused, swallowing hard.
              Why won’t you kiss me again ?
              Finally, he found the words. "If I do," he whispered, touching her face. His voice shook with desperation. "Kat, if I kiss you again, I won’t be able to stop at just a kiss."
              The ache inside her, that feeling that had nagged her all night, suddenly became unbearable. All night long, she’d wondered how she could tell him she wanted him, that she wanted him every way he’d have her, and finally, the words came:
              "Kiss me again."
     
              Chris didn’t hesitate.
              As his tongue explored her mouth, he slid his hands under her shirt. They both gasped as his skin touched hers, and they broke the kiss just long enough for him to lift her shirt off.
              Kissing her deeply, he let his fingers memorize the bra he’d imagined so many times since its strap first caught his attention that night. He ran his fingertips along its alternately