“There’s more spinning, but that’s the gist of it.”
“Can we make a deal?”
“What?”
“No apologizing for being honest and telling me how you feel. It’s a privilege that you trust me enough to share what’s going on in your head.”
“I’d imagine it’s more of a burden.”
“I don’t feel that way, but I can see how exhausting it would be for you. I hope talking to me lightens some of your load.”
“Are you a real person?” I narrow my eyes, studying him.
“Is that a real question?”
“Sort of. I mean, you always say the right things. So, if you are computer-generated, a woman is definitely behind it.”
“Thanks. I think.” He grins, slipping his arms around my waist, sharing his body heat. “You didn’t offend anyone. They all loved you and want you to come back. Sophia might even have a girl crush.” He chuckles. “You made an amazing impression just by being yourself.”
A smile blooms on my face, feeling relief and something I wouldn’t dare name. Instead, I hug his shoulders, soaking in the comfort of his words and embrace.
“Cold?” he asks when a little shiver escapes me.
“No.” How could I be cold around him? “But my car’s probably warm by now,” I say. “I should let you get back to your sister’s birthday.”
“In a minute,” he murmurs. “There’s something I want to do first.”
“What’s that?”
“Kiss you. Would that be okay?”
I nod, sliding my hands from his shoulders to the back of his neck, feeling a second wind. “I was hoping you would.”
Surrounded by the dark chill of night, I slip her glasses into my pocket and cup her cold cheeks. Our breath creates a soft veil between us as her coat brushes against mine like the quiet rustle of leaves. I lean in slowly, being careful with her after last night. But Lexie isn’t tentative—at all. The second our mouths meet, her eyes flutter closed, and her lips part. She eagerly gives me her tongue, sliding it against mine—warm, wet, and tasting so fucking good. Like brandy, coffee, and sex.
Desire flares hot and fast, starting in my chest and spreading lower. I’ve never craved anyone this much—not just her body, but all of her. My hands travel from her cheeks, slowly drifting down her neck, feeling her pulse trip beneath my thumbs. Her moans vibrate against my mouth. The woman I’m holding, who thinks she’s sexually broken, is a firebrand in my arms.
Her hands move restlessly at the nape of my neck and shove into my hair as we feed each other long, lusty kisses. She moves against me, seeking, wanting. It’s all I can do not to rip open her coat and fill my hands with her supple, round breasts. I now know the soft weight of them in my palms, the texture of her nipples, and how hard they get when stroked.
Through the haze of arousal, I somehow remember where we are—right in front of my family’s house. I catch her bottom lip between my teeth and return my hands to her cheeks before inching back, struggling to catch my breath. She blinks those dark blue eyes up at me. Desire, like an electrical field, crackles around us.
“I didn’t want to stop,” I murmur.
The soft glow of the porch lights plays over her face, revealing a flicker of surprise at her own heated reaction. “It’s good you had the presence of mind to pull away.”
“Barely,” I admit. Lexie Monroe makes it hard to breathe—hard to think. She makes me lose my mind. Knowing she was just as lost in the moment—even when she didn’t think it was possible—sets something off in me.
“I should go.” She nods toward her idling car.
“Night, Lex.” I slide her glasses back on and hug her tight, like I’m trying to absorb her into my skin.
Reluctant to let me go, too, her hands linger on the nape of my neck. “Night,” she sighs.
“Drive safe and text when you get home.”
“I will.” She brushes her lips over mine once more before stepping back, leaving her imprint behind.
I feel it there as I watch her slip into her car and drive off, her taillights fading into the night. A chill settles into all the places our bodies touched. I’ve never believed in instalove. Deep emotions develop and evolve over time. They don’t hit you like a power kick. This thing with Lexie? I haven’t been able to explain it in rational terms. I just know my world feels fuller when she’s around and emptier when she’s not.
