by E. L. Todd
“Ace, she’d never take him back.”
He didn’t repeat himself. “Even if she didn’t, I don’t want to be the reason they aren’t a family.”
“Even if you weren’t her boyfriend, she still wouldn’t take him back. I know her.”
“And I know her better. I know how much she loved him. I know how hurt she was when he left. I was there, Bree. You weren’t.”
I took a deep breath when the hit sank into me.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I can’t let myself fall in love with her. If she broke my heart, I’d never get back on my feet. I’ve already fallen hard for Rose and Lily. If I had to pack my stuff and leave them…that would hurt even more.”
Hearing all these sweet things made my eyes wet. I wished my sister had never married Evan. I wished Ace had told her how he felt well before she married someone else. He was the person she should be with, not Evan. “Ace, you have to try. You’re making your decision based on events that may never happen. Maybe Evan marries this woman and never tries to get back together with Amelia. You have no idea.”
“Instinct is a pretty powerful thing, Bree.”
“I think this is a mistake. I think she should be with you, Ace. And I would tell her that if she ever asked.”
“Well, if you keep your word, you never should,” he said. “I trust you, Bree. Don’t give me a reason not to.”
Now I was stuck at a crossroads, debating whether I should tell my sister or not. But Ace was one of my closest friends. I didn’t want to lose his confidence as well as his respect. “I sincerely hope you think it over. Because I believe you’re wrong.”
Cypress was sitting on the stairs in front of his door with Dino beside him, obviously waiting for me to walk home.
“You didn’t need to wait up for me.”
Dino ran to me with his tongue hanging out.
I couldn’t resist that face no matter how hard I tried. I kneeled down and petted him, letting him lick me across the cheek a few times. “Hey, Dino. Thanks for waiting up for me.”
“So you thank him but not me?” Cypress asked as he stood up.
“He’s a guard dog.”
“And I’m a guard husband.” He walked toward me with his hands in the pockets of his jeans.
I stood up and looked into Cypress’s face, seeing the handsome and stern expression he wore.
“What did you talk about with Ace?”
I couldn’t say. “Just stuff about Amelia.”
“Like?”
“I asked if he had feelings for her because it seems like he does.”
“And what did he say?”
I felt bad for lying, but I had to keep my promise. “Said he didn’t.”
“He said the same to me. I think he sees her as a sister, the way I see her too.”
Ace definitely didn’t see her like a sister. Cypress was totally blind. “Yeah…”
Cypress moved in closer to me, his shadow approaching mine. His face was visible, but the street was dark and most things were indistinguishable. His hands slid around my waist, and he came close to me, close enough for a kiss.
I knew where this was going. “Not tonight.” If I let it happen too many times, my logic would become blurred.
“I just want to hold you.” He pressed his forehead to mine and brought me close to him. “I love sex as much as the next guy, but there’s nothing better in life than holding the woman you love.” He closed his eyes and tightened his grip on me.
I’d have to be made of stone for those words not to sink into my heart. My hands slid up his arms, feeling the bulge of his biceps under his shirt. His cologne washed over me, reminding me of the smell of his bedroom. I closed my eyes and cherished the closeness, unable to resist how good it felt.
The night deepened, and the three of us stood there together. I didn’t want to go inside and sleep even though I was exhausted. I didn’t even think about what Ace told me about Amelia. I just thought about the man in front of me, the man I’d promised to love until the day I died.
I didn’t trust him.
But I still felt just as strongly for him as I did when I first laid eyes on him. My heart reacted anytime he was near. When he said the right words, I melted at his feet. I couldn’t resist his charm or his sincerity.
I suspected I knew how this was going to end.
And there was nothing I could do to stop it.
I moved my head until my mouth brushed against his. I gave him a light kiss, feeling the stubble from his chin rub against my soft skin. As if the world went quiet just for us, I enjoyed the sensation, the burn of our mouths once they touched. I felt the jolt of passion, of sensual desperation.
I felt everything.
He kissed me back, keeping it slow and gentle. His lips met mine with purposeful kisses. His tongue never came into contact with mine, but it was still one of the sexiest kisses we’d shared. It wasn’t based on lust, but something a lot deeper.
I pulled my mouth away when the kiss went on longer than it should. The affection went to my head, my heart, and everywhere else. “Good night…”
He kept his grip on me, refusing to let me go. He looked me in the eye, his intensity stronger than it’d ever been before. “I believe in us. And I’ll never stop believing.”
Also by E. L. Todd
The story continues in 325 First Fights
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Afterword
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading 400 First Kisses. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you could leave a short review, it would help me so much! Those reviews are the best kind of support you can give an author. Thank you!
Wishing you love,
E. L. Todd
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Also by E. L. Todd
Electric
Charge (Electric Series #1)
Spark (Electric Series #2)
Burn (Electric Series #3)
Combust (Electric Series #4)
Elektrik
Charge (Coming Soon)
First
400 First Kisses (Coming Soon)
325 First Fights (Coming Soon)
218 First Hugs (Coming Soon)
Hors du temps
Lundi(Coming Soon)
Ray
Ray of Light (Ray #1)
Ray of Hope (Ray #2)
Ray of Love (Ray #3)
Ray of Time (Ray #4)
Ray of Heart (Ray #5)
Ray of New (Ray #6)
Ray of Life (Ray #7)
Rayon
Rayon de lumière (Coming Soon)
Rayon d'Espoir (Coming Soon)
Schimmer
<
br /> Schimmer des Lichts
Schimmer der Hoffnung (Coming Soon)
Zeitlos
Montag (Coming Soon)
Standalone
Time Stands Still (Forever and Ever #51)
Gladiator
Forever and Ever Boxed Set
Table of Contents
Copyright
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Also by E. L. Todd
Afterword
Want To Stalk Me?
EL’s Elites
Also By E. L. Todd