Free Groomless - Part 2 by Sierra Rose Page A

back, and suddenly decide we can continue right where we left off?” I asked, staring at him in disbelief.
    “Why not?”
    “It’s too late. You left, deserted me. I gave you a choice, Luke. I knew if you got on that plane, we’d be over forever.”
    “I understand. I hurt you. I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry,” he said, pain and regret flashing across his gorgeous face.
    “Hurt isn’t the half of it. I was devastated, almost as devastated as I was when I lost my mom or when I heard that I’m going to lose Dad. I guess we learned a few painful lessons from the mistakes we made, though, and your apology… Well, you saying sorry now means a lot to me. Thank you for that.”
    “I mean it, JJ.”
    “I know, and that touches my heart.”
    “I’d still like to be friends. I’ll be around, but if you don’t want me in your life, I’ll respect your decision.”
    “I can’t believe I’m standing here in the rain, arguing with you,” I said.
    “Remember how we used to make up after a heated argument?”
    I let my eyes rest on him for a long moment. I couldn’t help staring, because he was as sexy as he was the day I’d met him. He looked even more amazing and tantalizing with the rain dripping from his slicked-back hair and onto his face. For the shortest of moments, my mind drifted back to the way he always kissed my anger away after a fight, but I blinked the rain out of my eyes and said, “I might be okay with you lurking around in the friend zone, but the more I think about it, the more I’m not sure.”
    “Why?”
    “Can a person really be just friends with an ex? Unless both parties are truly over it, it seems like it might get…tricky.”
    “We’ve had years to process the breakup. I think our friendship is worth salvaging, and honestly, if you didn’t think so, I don’t think you’d be standing in the pouring rain talking to me about it.”
    I smiled, realizing he’d called my bluff, as he was always so good at doing.
    “There’s that beautiful smile I remember so much.”
    “I’ll call you,” I said.
    “Great.”
    Instead of leaving, I found myself locked in his gaze again. A flurry of feelings and sensations overwhelmed me, and my heart was beating wildly, even faster than the rhythm of the falling rain. His lips were so close to mine, and I wanted nothing more than to claim them. My heart wanted to surrender to the moment. He gently pushed me up against the wall and pressed his firm body into mine. He studied my every move, my every reaction, every twitch of my lips, staring at me with those piercing blue eyes. I was a nervous ball of energy. I knew I needed to leave, but I couldn’t seem to break free from his hypnotic gaze.
    I had always thought myself to be a sophisticated woman who knew exactly what she wanted and went after it, but that cool headedness quickly faded when Luke came crashing back into my life. As my hands traveled down the contours of his chiseled face, I lost all sense of focus. His fingers traced my jawline, then my shoulders, slowly down my bare arms. I was drowning in need, in desire; I wanted to touch him, to consume him. When his lips touched mine, ever so softly and sweetly, I wanted to devour him. I opened my mouth, and our tongues performed a perfect waltz, like dance partners long lost and reunited in a collision of passion. Damn, how I’ve missed this, I thought. I raked my fingers through his wet hair. The kiss was slow and sensuous, tender and passionate, just like the man who was giving it to me.
    The next thing I knew, Luke was pulling me into his limo. He continued kissing me slowly, the passion building with each passing second. I held his face in my hands and kissed him back, and he twisted his fingers in my hair, exciting me even more. I knew I should stop, to put an end to it before things went too far, but for the life of me, I simply couldn’t stop. It had been far too long since I had felt kisses like that, and Luke’s lips felt like