It sounds dangerous—like the glass is breaking—but even as I turn to ask Kylie if she’s okay, she’s launching herself into my arms, her mouth seeking mine.
“Baby,” I begin, pulling back, not nearly in enough control to do this right now.
To feel her body against mine and not take.
To have her kissing me, her tongue in my mouth, her hands on me…no, I need to sip her up in slow, controlled draws, be patient as I give her something good—and only something good.
I can’t have her looking at me with fear and panic in her eyes again.
I fucking can’t.
She freezes when I draw away, hands clenched on my thighs again, fingers desperate to touch, to stroke, to tease. “You don’t—” Bright red cheeks. “I thought you coming to school…” She drops back onto her heels. “I thought dinner…” A step back. “You don’t want to?”
I snag her wrist, staying her. “Do I need to show you how much I want you again?”
A shudder, her body swaying toward mine. “Colt,” she whispers.
“No?” I ask lightly.
“I don’t want to think about it.” Her throat works. “About him.”
Slowly, I draw her back against me. “I don’t want you to think about it either. About him.” I slide my hand along her spine, soaking in the feel of her. “But we need to move slowly, need to be patient.”
“I just want to get it over with.”
My mouth quirks. “Are you saying my kissing skills are that bad?” I tease.
“I—” She breaks off on a sigh and closes her eyes, wincing. “I’m sorry,” she says, “I didn’t mean it to sound like that. It’s just…the other night was so good and you’re so wonderful and…you came to school today.”
“Did you forget about the tires?” I joke.
“No,” she whispers, settling her hand on my chest. “I didn’t.”
Tenderness blooms in my belly and I bury my face in her hair, inhaling the soft floral scent, feeling the silky strands cling to my beard. “Baby.”
She shudders, hand sliding to my stomach and pushing back, those blue eyes unfathomable…at least until she asks, “Kiss me?”
“Are you ready for that?”
Her face goes soft. “I’m ready to try.”
I wait for a long moment, giving her time to change her mind, then lean in and brush my lips over hers, once, twice, three times.
A long, slow exhale, her body relaxing against mine.
I brush again, a little harder this time, and when she only sighs again, I deepen the touch of my mouth against hers, dipping my tongue in to tangle with hers.
She moans softly and I slide my hand up her back, drawing her more firmly against me?—
And there.
Stiffness between her shoulder blades.
The slightest tremble of her fingers on my stomach.
I pull back, drop my hand.
Her eyes are closed and she sighs, shaking her head. “I’m sorry.”
