For Now, For Good

8. - A Year Ago

The Eighth Hour

There is empty McDonalds wrappers and containers sprawled out across his hotel room, and I feel like I've eaten enough to get me through the next week without another meal, at least.

"Maybe that was a bad idea" Lando chuckles on the floor beside me.

We've been laying side by side on the floor of the hotel room, trying our best to digest the copious amounts of food we just consumed.

"I don't think I've ever eaten that much food in my life" I groan.

My hands are laying out on the floor next to me, stretched out near my waist, and I feel this pull, this draw to reach out just an inch further.

Just an inch, I can feel it. I feel him there too.

But he doesn't reach out the extra inch either. So, I guess that is what keeps me at bay here.

"Now, usually after a food coma, comes a long, well needed sleep, and we aren't going to do that" I hear him grunt beside me as he begins to move.

Next minute he's standing in front of me, arms stretched out, reaching for me.

"Up" he chuckles in command.

Reaching out my hands, they link with his, and for the briefest moment, we both stop for a second, our eyes snapping to the connection of our skin, as if an electric current just surged through us.

I desperately apply some moisture to my throat as it runs dry, my lips folding in on themselves, forcing my eyes back to his, his expression holding the same thoughts as mine.

He pulls me to my feet, neither one of us saying a word, and I willingly rise to be stood in front of him, our bodies grazing against each other with how close we stand.

I can't find the words to say, terrified of cutting through his tension by using the wrong ones.

His gaze drops down between us, curiosity gets the better of me as I follow his gaze.

I become aware that our hands are still connected, his thumb running a repeating motion across the backs of my hand.

But even when noticing this, my first reaction isn't to pull away.

Blinking my eyes back up to meet his, I can feel the pace of my heart picking up at the temptation.

"Baylee, I" he begins to whisper, but my urgent shaking head cuts him off. His face curves into confusion.

"Don't say anything" I request, my own voice barely a whisper, "Not yet"

He closes his lips tightly, nodding his head in understanding.

I close my eyes, requesting my mind to stop betraying me, begging for it to remove this sin from my thoughts.

When I feel pressure against my forehead, and his warm breath pass across my lips, I can't bring myself to open my eyes.

"Look at me" he mutters, a voice commanding my trust.

I peel my eyes open slowly.

"I can't explain it. I don't know if I really want to, to be honest, but there's just, something" he stutters.

"Something?" I whisper with a slight chuckle.

"Don't make fun of me" he mocks, "You know exactly what I mean"

I nod my head against his, "I do"

"And as much as my body is fighting against my mind right now, torturing me to take that bottom lip of yours between my teeth, and make you moan my name" he teases, causing my legs to squeeze tightly together, "I know you belong to someone else right now"

I hate how I feel disappointed.

"Besides" he adds more positively, his hands disconnecting. I didn't feel them when they connected, but my entire body felt it when he left. "You're the type of girl who deserves more than just the one night I have to give you" I feel his hand cup against my cheek.

Involuntarily my head falls into his touch, giving him the full weight.

"Why does it feel like I've known you longer than 8 hours?" I ask defeated.

"I know what you mean" he chuckles, "I don't understand it either"

It makes me wince feeling like I can't give into my urges right now, it it's causing me physical pain.

"I still don't want this night to end" I inform him.

"I don't either" Lando agrees.

I close my eyes, demanding myself to remove my body from his, as I slowly pull away.

"Do you believe in secrets?" He chuckles, defeated.

I know what he means, and it makes me chuckle in amusement. "I shouldn't"

"What about regrets?" He adds, this time more serious.

And this hits my core.

I let out a defeated breath, "I don't care much for those"

"Neither do I" he agrees, a devilish look in his eye, one that burns the flame of desire.

We just stare at each other for a few moments, his gaze radiating through my entire body.

"Tell me where the boundary is" he begs, "tell me what we can do so you don't cross the line"

I let out a shaken breath, "I feel like I've already crossed it. The very fact my mind is betraying me right now, it proves my disloyalty"

He shakes his head, "you're not disloyal"

But that isn't true.

"Tell me then, he's the love of your life. You can't picture your future without him. Tell me you plan on marrying him. Tell me he's end game for you" he asks desperately.

"I can't do that" I reply with tears threatening my eyes.

Lando crosses the small distance between us. A distance I wasn't even aware we'd put between each other.

"Then tell me to stop. Tell me not to do the one thing, my whole body is demanding that I do"

I gaze up into his gaze, the hunger and lust that burns through them hits me like a freight train.

"I can't do that either"

The words barely out of my lips before he encloses his over mine, tasting them and claiming them with a force that was indescribable.

The second I tasted him, and felt what it was like to have him on me, I felt the end game.