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“And how will you do that?”

“I’ll worship every inch of your body.” Goose bumps broke out on my belly. I smiled, trailing my fingers along his right shoulder. His voice was in a lower octave when he added, “Every. Single. Inch.”

It was nearly two o’clock in the morning when I finally arrived home. I was smiling from as I stepped inside my apartment. Not even bothering to take a shower, I dropped my clothes next to my bed and slid under the covers. I reached for my phone before I forgot to set the alarm again. To my surprise, he’d texted me.

Tate: Tell me when you’re home. I want to know you’re safe.

Grinning, I replied.

Lexi: I’m home. I slipped under the covers.

Tate: I wish I were there with you.

My heart gave a mighty sigh, and I knew he’d only just begun making me swoon.

Tate: I can’t stop thinking about you.

My body was sizzling again. My heart rate intensified.

Lexi: I can’t stop thinking about you either.

It was the truth, and I didn’t like playing games. Tonight had been incredible.

Tate: I can’t wait to see you tomorrow morning.

Lexi: I hope I won’t oversleep.

Tate: Then I’ll stay longer and wait for you.

Lexi: That’s how much you want to see me?

Tate: Oh no. I want to do a lot more. Kiss you, take your clothes off, but I also like seeing you. My mornings are better after that.

I laughed, intending to tease him, but then I stopped because what if he was serious? His gran had said something similar, so there had to be a seed of truth in it.

I dropped the phone to one side, pushing the pillow against my face. My belly was full of flutters, and I couldn’t believe it.

I didn’t know what to do with this longing I had for him. It wasn’t purely physical either. I liked talking to him, being with him, laughing with him. But he still had scars from his divorce, and I wasn’t sure he could do anything more than a fling.

I pulled the covers up to my chin.Enjoy how he makes you feel, Lexi. I placed a hand over my chest, smiling. Even if I could forget that he was hot as sin and kissed deliciously, I couldn’t ignore the way he made me feel.

Oh, Tate. What are you doing to me?

CHAPTER 15

LEXI

The next morning,I was in a frenzy. I hadn’t heard the alarm clock, but I somehow woke up anyway. Only it was fifteen minutes too late.

I got ready quickly, choosing a red dress that brushed my knees and had a generous V-cut. It was hot as hell outside and told myself that was why I was wearing this.

I had a huge grin on my face as I left the building, and it hadn’t toned down one bit when I arrived at Tate’s house. But that was okay. I didn’t think Paisley would be able to tell if anything was different about me. Kids weren’t inherently suspicious.

I knocked at the door, bracing myself for the sight of Tate. To my astonishment, Declan opened it.

“Morning,” he said. “Gran and I stopped by for breakfast.”

“Hi,” I squeaked.