“Stealthy?” I squinted at Nick. “You’re like, what, seven feet tall? I don’t think sneak attacks will work.” I let out a nervous laugh as he slowly backed me into the storage room.
“Six foot two. So, like I said, were you going to ignore me all day?” His gaze softened as he came closer. “We had a good time the other night. At least, I did.”
“I did, too. It’s just that . . .” The air thickened between us again, and dizziness hit me like a wave. My palms dampened as adrenaline coursed through my system. My eyes fell on his lips, and this time, I couldn’t pull them away. I tasted them and felt his hard body flush against mine and under my fingertips. My breathing quickened as he inched toward me. I lost any brain cells needed to make somewhat intelligent conversation.
“Is this about when you kissed me the other night?” Nick’s mouth slanted into a smirk as his eyes twinkled.
My mouth fell open. “I . . . um . . . don't remember it quite that way.” I glowered at Nick as he snickered back.
“How do you remember it?” Nick whispered as he cupped my cheek. My heart pounded as I took in the heat in his stare. He ran his thumb back and forth over my cheek, and I fought against the urge to lean into his touch.
“You kissed me. That's what I remember.” I wanted to sound indignant and pissed, but my tone was nothing more than a throaty whisper.
“Hmm. Maybe I did. But . . .” Nick grazed his thumb along my bottom lip. “I’m pretty sure I remember you kissing me back.”
“You still started it.” My voice was hoarse with . . . lust, need, anticipation? Maybe a little of all of it. Nick glided his hand down my neck and my racing pulse throbbed against his fingers.
“So . . . if I kissed you again . . . what would you do?” As he leaned in, the husky rasp of his voice made the tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
Tingles danced between my legs and across my entire body. The rapid fire of nerve endings that had been asleep for so many years made me woozy.
Before I knew it, our mouths were fused together. I fisted the collar of his shirt as my back hit the wall. Instead of protesting, I whimpered as my tongue tangled with his. Two kisses from Nick ignited a hunger inside me I’d considered to be gone for good.
There was a yard full of people outside—any of whom could walk right through this door at any second. My lack of caring about any of that was a huge indicator of how much trouble I was in with this guy. I didn’t want to stop kissing him or go back to feeling bad about wanting to in the first place. All I wanted was him, right here and right now. I could still deny it out loud, but to myself? Not a chance.
Everything about him filled my senses—his taste, the sweet scent of his cologne, the way his lips moved against mine as if they couldn’t get enough. My brain was devoid of all thought or, judging by the way I let Nick grope me against the wall, scruples.
“Sorry, Ellie, I forgot to ask you to get—oh, my God!” Paige’s shriek broke the spell, and our lips stopped moving.
“Daisy!” Evan’s panicked voice followed her. “Are you okay . . .holy shit . . .”Evan trailed off as he took in our still compromising position. My fingers gripped the soft cotton of Nick’s T-shirt collar while his hands rested low on my hips.
“I . . . asked Nick to help me carry the water in.” I cringed while Paige gaped at us. Evan held his fist to his mouth in a failed effort to cover a laugh.
“I see.” Paige tapped her finger to her chin. “And you thanked him by shoving your tongue down his throat?”
“Paige, please—”
“Paige, nothing. Let me serve my guests; you finish up . . . whatever you guys were doing . . . and we can discuss all you’ve been holding out on.” She winked at me before squatting down to pick up the fallen plastic bottles before Evan shook his head and swatted her away to pick them up himself.
“See you outside. You guys want this door closed?” The side of Evan’s mouth tipped up in a smirk.
“Evan,” Nick growled.
“Just checkin’.” Evan raised an eyebrow at Paige before they made their way outside.
I dropped my head to my hands. “Well, that wasn’t embarrassing at all.”
Nick laughed as his finger tapped my chin to make me look up. “I’m not embarrassed.” He shrugged with a huge grin. “And I’m not sorry.”
I put my hands on Nick’s chest and peered into his caramel eyes, now almost black. “I have no clue as to what I’m doing. I haven’t dated since . . .”
“I know,” he whispered as he ran his finger down my cheek.
“And before him, I was a kid. I haven’t dated anyone else or even wanted to. Until . . .” I grabbed his hand.
“Until . . . now?” Nick squeezed back. The simple caress of his thumb back and forth over the top of my wrist made the butterflies start up again.Pathetic.
I shrugged but slowly nodded. “I’m a complicated, wishy-washy pain in the ass. You deserve better than—”
