Free A Splash of Hope by Charity Parkerson

as she attempted to pull a solemn face, only to fail and have her smile pop back into place.
    Before he realized what he was doing, he reached up and pulled the clip from her hair, causing it to spill down her back. Taking a curl between his fingers, he brushed his thumb over it, savoring the softness of it. He kept his eyes locked on the motion, not meeting her gaze as he spoke. “You’re so damn beautiful.”
    “Funny, I was thinking the same thing about you.”
    He did meet her gaze then. She looked as if she wished she could take the words back, but it was too late.
    “I’m going to kiss you again,” he warned.
    He waited for her to argue but she held her silence. “Tell me ‘no,’” he said, unsure of why he was pushing her.
    “No,” she responded, causing him to chuckle. He knew she was leaving it open for him to decide if she was saying no to his kiss or no to telling him no. He decided to choose the latter. Touching his lips to hers, he lingered, refusing to press her for more. For a moment, Adam simply wanted to enjoy the feel of her soft skin against his lips. He wanted to inhale her into his lungs. Although he wanted her in every way possible, he was happy to have this much.
    “Quit being a pansy,” Faith whispered against his lips as she took control, deepening their kiss. His heart soared with hope and more emotion than he could name. As he pulled away, he noticed her fingers were gripping his shirt in a tight hold. The dazed look on her face had his heart skipping a beat.
    Adam had never been one for poetry. However, he’d once read a book called Night Poems by Ben Ditmars, hoping to impress the hot girl that sat next to him in English lit. A line from one of the poems struck a chord with him and he’d never forgotten it. It said, “I held you briefly and we parted, shaking, jittery, but not from the cold.” He thought at the time, in his youth, they shook from lust. Looking at Faith now, he realized it wasn’t lust at all that left them shaking, not by a long shot.

Chapter Thirteen
    Serenity: A month ago
    Serenity hadn’t planned far enough ahead she realized as Adam crowded her with his body.
    “We’re engaged now, remember?” he said, as he buried his face in the crook of her neck. His lips brushed her skin and her stomach churned. She’d been so stupid not to have realized Adam would expect more from her than to simply plan a wedding and a life together. His lips touched her skin once more and she shoved him away before she could think better of it.
    “Don’t touch me!” she screamed before covering her mouth in horror.
    “Why ever not?” he asked in mock surprise. “It’s not as if you’re already married or anything,” he added sardonically.
    As if a light switch had been thrown, understanding dawned in Serenity’s mind. “You know, don’t you?” she asked, horrified. “You know everything.”
    ***
    Adam: Present day
    Fire licked across Adam’s abdomen as Faith’s tongue traced each line . Adam’s eyes shot open. His breathing felt ragged and the only item left on his king-sized bed was the pillow he held against his chest. Releasing his tight grip upon it, he shoved it beneath his head. Glancing down the line of his body at the raging hard-on staring up at him, he groaned. The dream seemed so real and the feeling it left behind was killing him. He wanted to touch her. Reaching down, he took his dick in hand. Damn, he could almost smell her scent. He stroked upward, squeezing tighter when he reached the crown, causing all his nerve endings to snap to life. A moan fell from his lips. He bit down on his bottom lip, holding in the sound and repeated the motion. Closing his eyes, he pictured her mouth there. Her lips parted as her pink tongue circled the head of his cock. He increased the speed of his hand as he imagined her throat tightening around his dick as her cheeks hollowed. It would never be enough. His balls drew up tight and a light exploded behind his eyes as