I Knew I Loved You

Chapter 6

Out of all the possible options, she and Kemal have been selected by the principal to take charge of the festivities for this year's Atatürk Day celebrations. Burcu has had the idea of organizing a short theater play, so they've been spending a few afternoons with and without the student groups to rehearse.

It's getting late today, and she and Kemal are the only ones in the hall now. Burcu stops mid-sentence of her suggestion when her gaze falls upon his face. He looks a million miles away yet at the same time hyper-focused on her, awakening the now ever-present butterflies in her tummy.

"Are you even listening to a word I'm saying?" she asks, half-exasperated.

"Sendeyim." He blinks and sends her a smile so dazzling she stumbles back a step and blushes.

Before she can pick up the thread of what she'd been explaining, he pushes himself off the column he'd been leaning against and steps right into her personal space.

"Enough, let's call it a day. How about I take you out to another fancy restaurant? Have you ever had Thai food?"

She falters and flounders, overcome by his physical nearness and by that tempting offer. He's taken her to two places already, plying her with exotic dishes and softening her with those earnest looks and words, and entertaining her with stories from his basketball phase.

"Better yet," he adds when she remains silent, "let me take you home to my place."

"To your place?" Her pulse is racing at the mere thought, at the forbidden possibilities.

"Mhm. Didn't I tell you that day that I can make excellent Chinese noodles? Let me prove it to you tonight."

She instinctively takes a step back, trying to keep her wits about her, but in turn he takes two steps closer so their bodies are almost touching.

"I... I don't think that's a good idea," she stammers, sounding unconvincing even to her own ears.

"Why not?" Kemal tilts his head in that way he has, and his gaze seems to be looking right through her, into her. "Afraid I'll devour you for dessert?"

Burcu gasps softly, a blush creeping into her cheeks and further down at the wanton image that conjures, and at the teasing tone of his low, deep voice.

"D-don't say things like that."

"Why not?" he asks again, and this time his step brings their bodies flush against each other.

His hands are at her waist, his fingers tickling, tugging, wandering. His palm splays against the small of her back and holds her tightly against his tall, powerful frame. The breath she sucks in makes her breasts brush his chest and there's a low, guttural sound in his throat that's part groan and part growl. It makes her instantly slick between her thighs, together with the heat of his hands on her body and the incendiary look he sends her through half-lowered lids.

"We can't, we shouldn't," she says belatedly, her voice a thready whisper and every nerve ending on fire.

"Your body says we can."

Kemal's other hand strokes up her arm and shoulder, his fingertips brushing over her neck and softly pressing against her fluttering pulse.

"Whenever I touch you, your body says 'yes.' And you know what, Burcu?" He lowers his head and holds her gaze, so close that his breath is mingling with hers. "I think your head and your heart are tired of saying 'no' by now."

When she simply stares, teeth worrying her lower lip, his hand moves again. It strokes up her neck and chin, before his thumb gently pulls her lip free of her teeth. He brushes it over her mouth and slides down to grasp her chin. Tilting her head a little, he bumps his nose against hers and speaks even closer to her mouth so it's driving her crazy.