The Merger Page 24
Pete moved to her so they were nearly pressed together. “Avery, what are you saying?”
“I don’t want to be alone.”
“I know. That’s why I’m here.”
Avery stepped to him and rested her hands on his chest. “You’re always here.”
Pete nodded. Here was where he always wanted to be.
She slid her hands up and around his neck. Instinctively, he wrapped his arms around her.
“Pete, we’ve never kissed.”
“Sure we…”
“Not like a real kiss.”
Pete licked his lips because his mouth had suddenly gone dry. “Friends don’t kiss like that.”
“Some do. Tiffany and Spencer did.”
She mentioned her cousin and his friend with benefits. That was until he fell in love with Julie.
“You and I are different. We don’t want that to come between us,” he reminded her.
Avery’s fingers were playing in his hair and suddenly the three o’clock hour must be messing with them. They seriously weren’t caressing each other in the kitchen were they, and talking about kissing?
Not that there was any space between them. She had closed it and now their bodies were pressed together.
“Everyone has been reminding me lately that you and I have been inseparable since we were little.” Her fingers were now caressing his ear.
“That’s what the title of best friends means,” he said, swallowing hard because he’d always wanted to be more.
“Pete,” her voice trailed off as she gazed up at him. “Kiss me one time as if we were a couple—as if you loved me.”
He hesitated because he wasn’t sure he could do this just once. The problem was his feelings for her had been stirring since he was that young boy. If he kissed her now, he wouldn’t want to stop with just one kiss. He couldn’t give her what she wanted.
“Avery…”
“Shhh,” she pressed her finger to his lips. “Just kiss me.”
He’d never denied Avery anything in all the years they’d known each other. Certainly, he wasn’t going to start disappointing her now.
Pete lifted his hand to her cheek and drew her in.
The moment their lips touched. that spark he knew which burned inside of him exploded in a brilliant white light behind his eyelids. The feel of her, the taste of her was more wonderful than he’d ever dreamed—and he had dreamed of it.
Her tongue slipped through his lips and danced with his as her arms tightened around him and his around her.
The moan that escaped her throat had him yearning to continue this simple request forever.
Meet the Author
Bestselling Author Bernadette Marie is known for building families readers want to be part of. Her series The Keller Family has graced bestseller charts since its release in 2011, along with her other series and single title books. The married mother of five sons promises Happily Ever After—always. She says she can write it, because she lives it.
When not writing, Bernadette Marie is shuffling her sons to their many events—mostly hockey—and enjoying the beautiful views of the Colorado Rocky Mountains from her front step. She is also an accomplished martial artist with a second degree black belt in Tang Soo Do.
A chronic entrepreneur, Bernadette Marie opened her own publishing house in 2011, 5 Prince Publishing, so that she could publish the books she liked to write and help make the dreams of other aspiring authors come true too.
You can connect with Bernadette Marie:
www.bernadettemarie.com
www.5princebooks.com
Books from 5 Prince Publishing
www.5princebooks.com
The Merger Bernadette Marie
Braving the Darkness Melynda Price
The Calling Jim Hanley
The Christmas Tree Guy Railyn Stone
The Copper Rebellion Jessica Dall
On Orders of the Commandant Mark Williams
Christmas Presence Lisa J. Hobman
Lessons From a Two-Year-Old Pete Abela
Vivian Bernadette Marie
How to Have a Happy Marriage Lindsay Harper
A Gift for Chloe Susan Lohrer
Penelope Bernadette Marie
Bridge of Hope Lisa J. Hobman
A Painted Room Pete Abela
Amelia Bernadette Marie
Lilac Lane Ann Swann
Crisis of Serenity Denise Moncrief
The Porcelain Child Jessica Dall
The Acceptance Bernadette Marie
Serpent Priestess of the Annunaki Katrina Sisowath
The Letter Drawer Sarah Galloway
How to Have an Amicable Divorce Lindsay Harper
Ice Goddess Hannelore Moore
Indomitable Spirit Bernadette Marie
A Heart Forever Wild Sara Barnard
Desperado Sara Barnard
The Copper Witch Jessica Dall
Home Run Bernadette Marie
Blissful Tragedy Amy L Gale
How to Have an Affair Lindsay Harper
The Soul of Jesus Doug Simpson