“Yes you do,” she chuckles. “Everything is growing out and your scruff is coming in thick and too long. Are you going all cave man too? You know, for humility reasons?” Lana arches a brow.
I narrow my eyes at her, but end up laughing. “Just give me a list, baby. Please, let me do this.”
Her shoulders drop and her eyes droop with exhaustion, her body giving up the fight. “I’m so tired…”
“Please,” I whisper, my hands drifting down her arm until her hand is in mine. I intertwine our fingers and whisper again, “Please, baby.”
“Are you sure?”
I nod and drop her hand so I can wrap my arms around her instead. “Yes, Lana. Let me help you.”
Lana sighs stubbornly. “I’ll make you a list and leave you cash.”
“No cash. Just the list.”
“You arenotpaying for my groceries.”
“I have, I am, and I will.”
She glares up at me with her tired eyes. “Christian.”
“Lana.”
She rolls her eyes, struggling to keep her smile small and contained.
“Permission to kiss you?” I ask.
“No,” she answers quickly and crosses her arms over her chest, holding onto her mug securely. Her lip tip up. “Yes.”
I move in deliberately slowly and wait. Her eyes drop to my lips before her lips part, and her breath hitches. “If you’re always going to be a tease about it, I’m revoking your kissing privileges.”
I huff and cup her face. “Shut up,” I groan and press my lips against hers. There is no waiting when her lips part with mine and our tongues graze against each other. I revel in the kiss and I don’t bother to tamper down all the sensations that come along with kissing her.
“I love you,” I blurt against her lips, my hands drifting down the curve of her ass before I give it a hard squeeze.
Lana releases a quiet gasp, her free hand fisting my shirt to the point of fabric tearing, and pulls me in, kissing me harder. Fuck the mug in her other hand, keeping us apart. I’m prepared to let it fall and clean up the mess after I’ve pressed her against the wall, stripped her naked, and made love to her before we go our separate ways for the day.
Kissing her now, I’m reminded of those lackadaisical mornings we spent in bed before classes or work. The times her or my kisses went from quietgood mornings to a passionate joining of ourselves. And I wish I could do that now without feeling like I’m going to disappoint her once I tell her the truth.There is a chance she might hate me after she knows the things I’ve done.
Could she hate me?
I hatemefor it, it would only make sense if she did too.
Savoring this final kiss, I pull away abruptly. Her fist is unyielding and her breaths come heavy and fast, just as mine do. “Christian?” she says. “What is it?”
I shake my head and swallow. “Nothing.” My hands come back up to curl around her hips, my thumbs pressing into the bones. “Nothing.”
“I know that look.”
I force my lips to give her a smile, but it is merely a twitch. “I’m okay.”
“What’s in your head?”
“Nothing, baby,” I lie. “I promise.”
She hums with incredulity. “I’ll let it go for now because I know you’ll tell me later.”
I dip my chin. “Send me your list, okay? I’ll go. Go back to sleep, baby.”
