“Thank you for coming back to me,” Lana whispers.
“I was always going to come back to you.” I move in slowly, brushing my lips over hers at first—a featherlight touch. Herhands smooth down from my nape to the collar of my shirt, curling and pulling me in closer.
She exhales quietly and softly through parted lips, that breath tickling my lips. I press my lips a bit harder against hers, allowing our mouths to fit together like puzzle pieces before it grows deeper. Before she pulls me in and in and in, until there is no room to breathe or move or think.
It’s Lana who intensifies it, sending my body into overdrive. There’s an ache growing, blood rushing to my cock to more she presses into me, and as she moans into my mouth. Her tongue parts my lips flawlessly, grazing her tongue against mine, and I devour her how I wish I could between her legs right now. How I wish I could bury myself inside of her.
I groan into her mouth and she returns the affection with another moan. My hands run down her delicate curves and over her ass, gripping tightly and pressing her hips into mine. One of her hands slide down my chest until her hand is cupping my erection, rubbing her palm along the length to torture me.
“Lana,” I growl, my hips jerking with a mind of their own.
She pulls away, her face flushed and lips swollen before she bites into them. A smirk grows on her face as she holds her lip between her teeth. “It’s more fun this way.”
“What is?” I rasp.
“The rule,” she says. “All the teasing.”
I groan and press my forehead to hers. “Lana?—”
“Want to walk me home?” Lana takes a step back and holds my hand.
I nod stiffly, my body singing with desire to the point of pain as she leads the way toward the stairs. She stops at the bottom and stands on the first step up.
She smiles. “This is me.”
I chuckle softly. “When can I see you again?”
Lana shrugs and kisses my cheek. “I don’t know. I’ll call you,” she says, turning and beginning her trip up the stairs. “Maybe.”
I scoff. “Maybe?”
“Goodnight, Christian,” she says, smiling over her shoulder.
“Goodnight, baby.” I smile and watch her walk the rest of the way upstairs.
The best possible way to end my night.
CHAPTER 15
Lana
We’re in Willow Springs Gardens after I surprised Christian with a picnic earlier this afternoon to celebrate his birthday week.
July third is a big day for me, even if my birthday is on Halloween. I love celebrating his birthday. I love the boyish grins on his face and the look in his brown eyes when he’s about to blow out the candles, the flames reflecting in his eyes. It’s like watching the little boy in him heal just a bit every year with a tiny cake.
He’s twenty three today, and he’s been sober for a month—ever since he came home and I had to slap him in the shower so he wouldn’t black out. And we’re so happy. The sun is glowing on him, a halo of light around his head, and he’s so perfect.
I’m so in love with Christian Calloway. I hope I die in love like this.
We’re sitting on our picnic blanket with full bellies. He’s next to me on his side, propped up on his elbow, reading a book I gave him. And I’m doing the same until I catch him squinting so violently, I don’t think he can see the words.
“Did you put on sunscreen?” I ask him.
“Yes,” he says, blinkingrapidly.
I close my book on its bookmark and set it down with a sigh.“So you put on sunscreen, but forget the sunglasses?”
He rolls his eyes and digs around the bag. He pulls out his sunglasses and puts them on. “Better?”
