“Ninety-five percent of the world’s bourbon comes out of Kentucky,” I say. “If you ever come out my way, trust me you will be in no short supply.”
Smiling, she makes my heart race as she says, “Maybe I will just have to come out that way then.”
God, I would love to take her home and show her my world. Although I doubt she would ever want to leave California, maybe I could convince her to take a trip back with me if whatever is happening between us goes any further. But, then I’d be risking more heartache when she eventually leaves, so why even go there?
As the night wears on, something about Eva makes me want to gamble, though, just one more time in life on this crazy and stupid thing they call love. Maybe she will be different. Maybe whatever this is between us, given the right chance, could work. Maybe it’s worth a shot.
After we’ve talked and had our share of food and drink, I watch as she gets down from the tailgate and wraps the blanket around herself tightly. She turns and faces me, smiling mischievously, the bourbon is obviously giving her a newfound confidence. Taking slow steps towards me, she comes to a stop in between the middle of my legs. My heart races, wondering what she’s up to.
She says nothing, just looks into my eyes, smiling, and waiting. For what, I have no clue. Is it an invitation of sorts? Hell, she needs no invitation. I always want to hold her, touch her, feel her, fuck, be anywhere near her.
She leans in, teasing me, and then backs away before I can close the distance.
I reach up and brush a few strands of hair out of her face. She leans her head into my hand, extending the time I take to touch her. I need to make a decision, but taking a brief second, I wait.
I’m not someone to inch into the swimming pool. I always dive in headfirst. Right now, I need to decide if my heart is strong enough to take the plunge again.
Lord knows, if I ever do, I want it to be with her.
Somewhere between kissing her in that bar the first night we met and tonight, I lost any will to guard myself. As much as I know my heart might not be strong enough to drown in love, as long as it’s her love killing me softly, it won’t matter.
The only future I see now has her in it. To hell with my past and swearing off love. Being with her gives me life. I just hope that she feels the same way, or could grow to in time.
“I don’t want to be without you, Eva,” I confess in a whisper. “I’m not sure how or when that happened, but something about you captivates me. Once you walked into my life, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you. You consume me.”
I close the distance between us and kiss her before she has a chance to respond. I have to have her. I have to taste her. I have to feel her against me to ease my nerves and calm the madness and doubt raging in my head.
She pulls back. Kissing her harder, I pull her back into my arms. Giggling, she finally breaks free.
“What? You think you can just say something like that, then kiss me senseless and I am not supposed to say anything,” she asks.
“I think we were just talking better than words,” I say, pulling her in and going for her neck. Kissing her softly a few times, her skin prickles with goosebumps. I smile against her skin and continue my assault, pulling her shirt off her shoulder, I lick, suck, and nibble my way across her collarbone.
She purrs, “You’re making me lose what I was about to say.”
“Good.”
I pull at the hem of her shirt, lifting it slightly under the blanket when she stops me and pulls away completely.
“Noah, whatever your middle name is, Stewart,” she sasses.
“Ryan,” I grin, pulling her closer. Flustered and playfully upset works for her and does nothing to stop the need building inside me.
She gives up and falls into the pull we have on each other. “Don’t you want to hear what I have to say,” she asks, pushing out her bottom lip in a pout.
Grabbing her ass, I lift her into my arms. She wraps both legs around my middle. Her blanket falls to her waist. “No,” I growl. “I want you to show me.”
Chapter Fifteen
Eva
I try to mask my nerves as Noah lifts me and lays me down in the tailgate of his truck. His hands come up to frame my face. He holds me there for a moment as his tender eyes gaze back into my own. His thumb runs across my bottom lip. I shiver in anticipation of what comes next.
He smiles at me shyly. “You nervous?” He teases, as his hands lower and he forces the blanket away from my hips.
My sharp intake of breath is my only response as his face lowers and he takes my lips in his. He’s tender at first, until his hands grab my hips and he pulls me tightly towards him. The way his tongue caresses my own has my center beginning to throb and my body trembling with need. I hook a finger through his belt loop and pull him closer as he bites my bottom lip and I let out a moan.
Releasing me, he pulls away slightly and sternly says, “Scoot back.”
