Strings Attached

Chapter Twenty

"Thank you, Chris. You've no idea of how much I appreciate it," he said, staring firmly at me with those beautiful eyes of his.

"I..." I bit my bottom lip and stared at him firmly.

Then, before he could move away, I kissed his lips. I thought he was going to pull away, but he kissed me back.

I knew I should have not done it. He had asked me to be only his friend, but I just could not help myself. My lips ached for his, and I could not stop myself from actually listening to that urge. The heart wants what it wants, and in this case what I wanted was Teddy.

"Chris," he muttered, his lips still on mine.

"Sorry," I said, but that did not stop me from wrapping my arms around him and kissing him even harder.

He wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed me back, making my insides melt.

I wanted all of him. I just did not have the strength to stop. I would have given anything to have him.

I started taking his shirt off, and he did not stop me. Once I took it off completely, I ran my hands through his bare chest as I kept kissing him.

"Chris," he muttered once more, but he did not stop.

I took my shirt off and pushed my chest against his. I could feel the rush inside me, and my body was asking me for more. Feeling the heat of his body against mine made my heart accelerate even more.

I started unbuttoning his jeans, but he stopped me, putting his hands on mine and staring firmly at me. "No, Chris," he whispered. "This isn't right."

"But I want you," I muttered. "Don't you want me?"

He bit his bottom lip. "I do, but not this way," he said.

"I..."

I did not even know what to say. He was rejecting me once more, and I just could not take it. The worst part was that he had warned me, and I did not listen. I had caused this upon myself.

"Please, Chris," he begged me. "Don't make this any harder than it already is..."

"I'm sorry," I muttered.

He sighed and kissed my forehead gently. "It's not your fault I'm so messed up."

He handed me my shirt gently, and I carefully put it on. He put on his shirt, too, and then it seemed like nothing had happened between us.

"I'm sorry," I repeated.

"No," he said. "I'm sorry."

"This is just... This is too difficult for me, Teddy," I told him as tears filled my eyes.

"No, no," he muttered. "Don't cry."

"I can't help it," I whispered. "You are just... too amazing and kind and... I don't deserve to be your friend. I told you I could be just a friend, but I'm not sure I can. I'm not strong enough."

He smiled at me. "You are, Chris. You are way stronger than me."

I stared at him and sighed. "I guess I can try."

He smiled. "You are awesome, Chris."

"You too," I said.

Teddy smiled and wrapped his arms around me. It was a beautiful hug because I could really feel affection behind it.

"I think I should leave," I muttered.

"No," he pleaded. "Please don't leave. I don't want to be alone."