“Ansel,” I muttered against his lips, bruised and bloodied. My fingers curled in his hair, tugging him closer, swallowing the shaky breath that left his chest when our mouths collided again.
This kiss wasn’t sweet. It was bruising, frantic — like we were both starved and terrified this was the last time.
“Juniper—” His voice cracked against my lips, hands gripping my thighs like he couldn’t stand the thought of letting me go.
“I don’t care,” I whispered, kissing him harder. “I don’t care about the rest of it. Just be mine. Please. Please tell me I haven’t fucked this up too much.”
He groaned — low, guttural — and that was all it took.
Suddenly his hands were everywhere, sliding under my shirt, splaying over my back, grounding me as he shifted us, pushing the seat back as far as it would go.
With my knees braced on either side of him, the cramped space of the car pressed us closer, tighter, until there was nothing but heat and the breath that surrounded us.
His mouth left mine, trailing down my jaw, my throat, biting gently at the pulse pounding beneath my skin. I gasped, my hips rolling against the seam of his jeans, catching against his erection.
He kissed me back like he was drowning, like every ounce of him wanted to give in — and then he tore himself away with a curse, resting his forehead against mine.
“Not like this.” His breath was ragged, voice almost breaking. “God, Juniper —not like this.”
I shook my head, desperate, kissing him again. “Yes. Please. I don’t care.”
But his hands slid from my waist to cradle my face, thumbs brushing my cheeks so gently it hurt. “I do.”
The words landed heavily, stealing the air from my lungs.
He closed his eyes, swallowing hard. “You don’t know how badly I want you. How long I’ve wanted you. But if this is the first time I get to have you—” His voice cracked, raw. “I want it to be special. Not here. Not like this.”
Tears stung my eyes, something in my chest splitting wide open.
“Ansel—”
His lips pressed to my forehead, lingering there. “I’ll take whatever scraps you can give me, Juniper. Every single one. But I’ll be damned if I let our first time be on the side of the road, after you’ve bailed me out of jail.”
And somehow — that broke me more than if he’d let it happen.
Because hemeant it.
Because he wanted me enough to wait.
Without letting go of me, he threw the car door open, standing slowly with my legs still wrapped around him. He kissed me once, quickly, before depositing me back into the passenger seat. “And I was serious about breakfast.” With a grin, he closed the door.
I sat there, heart thundering, lips still swollen from his kisses, staring at him as he rounded the hood.
God help me, I wanted him.
But worse —
I think I was finally starting to realize just how badly I mightlovehim.
CHAPTER 47
The diner was half-empty, smelling faintly of bacon grease and stale coffee. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead like they resented being awake at this hour.
I couldn’t blame them.
Ansel didn’t even hesitate — gesturing for me to slide into the booth first. I expected him to sit on the opposite side. But he slid in next to me and patted the space directly beside him like it wasobviousI’d scoot closer to him.
And because I was weak, I did.
