His hand slid up her back, tangling in her hair, angling her head to deepen the kiss further—
And then reality crashed back in.
With monumental effort, Jacob broke the kiss and physically pushed her away, holding her at arm's length.
He couldn't look her in the eye.
His breathing was unsteady. His control hanging by a thread.
"What—what are you doing?" Lily asked breathlessly, confused and slightly hurt, her lips still tingling. "Why did you stop?"
[Just when things were getting interesting, he STOPS? What kind of person does that?!]
Her face was flushed, her hair slightly messed, her lips swollen from kissing.
She looked absolutely beautiful.
And that was exactly the problem.
"It's getting late," Jacob said stiffly, straightening his collar and deliberately looking away from her. "We should go downstairs for dinner. Grandfather will be waiting."
So he forced himself to walk toward the door, his movements almost jerky.
