No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

Chapter 246



The sense of rejection I felt from Conrad only spurred me on, igniting a curiosity within me. Was I truly that undesirable? Could a man hold me in his arms without feeling any stirrings of passion, maintaining his composure throughout?

"Ernest," I whispered, my hand finding its way to his back, pulling him closer through the fabric of his shirt, my nails digging into him slightly.

I could feel Ernest tense up even more, so much so that he inhaled sharply. "Licia..."

I pressed closer to him, my body soft and pliable in just my nightgown, fully aware of my own softness.

If Ernest could resist this, then it was a clear sign of my own failure.

"Licia," Ernest called out to me in a rushed breath, then he let go, placing his hands on my shoulders and looking down, his breathing heavy.

His Adam's apple bobbed, his body trembling... It was as if he had just sprinted a mile.

And I wasn't faring much better. Having taken this step, I was a mix of embarrassment and boldness.

"Licia, it's getting late," Ernest said, releasing me and stepping away.

and a profound sense of failure heating my brain. "Ernest,

one foot out the door,

own expression, but I could feel it-eyes

then he stepped back, closing the door behind him with his foot. In the next second, the room dimmed, my head was pulled back gently, and I felt the heat of his lips on

hand controlling my slight frame as

felt an intensity I'd never known before, tasting the madness of love between a man and a

Ernest's voice,

that, I questioned myself, Is

before they passed, when I was just twelve and beginning to blossom. My mother had shared some wisdom about the birds and the bees, and about

let a man touch her lightly, unless she was ready to commit her whole life to him. And before making that decision, she had said to consider if he was

hove

commitment.

ready to commit to Ernest

had acknowledged our relationship

was too long,

wasn't

regain his composure, his cheek brushing lightly against my hair. "Let's wait a bit

couldn't speak, my mind