He meets my gaze then, something raw and real flickering there. “Now I’m older and still stupid. But I don’t care who knows I care about you.”
I swallow hard. The wind picks up, tugging at my hair, and when he reaches out to tuck a strand behind my ear, his thumb grazes my cheek. That small, familiar touch undoes me.
I lean in, just enough for him to close the distance.
The kiss is slow and certain, soft at first—an apology, a confession, a beginning. The taste of salt air and rain clings to his lips. His hand slides to the back of my neck, steady and warm, and my fingers bunch in the collar of his shirt, holding him there because I can’t remember what it felt like not to.
The world narrows to breath and heartbeat and the quiet ache of finally.
When I pull back, I press my forehead to his. “You always did have terrible timing,” I whisper, smiling even as my heart stumbles.
He laughs against my mouth. “Pretty sure this is the best timing I’ve ever had.”
And for once, I believe him.
We head back to the bookstore, hands barely brushing against each other. The electricity sizzles and is ready to scorch us without a moment’s notice.
We slip through the back door, directly into the kitchen, and before I can set my keys on the counter, Crew grabs my hand and tugs me against him. His lips immediately find the sensitive spot between my neck and shoulder.
“Crew,” I moan as my body rocks back against the growing stiffness in his pants.
His hands come around my body, one wrapping around my waist while the other slips under my shirt, grasping one of my heavy breasts.
My keys drop to the floor, and I couldn’t care less where they land.
“I need to have you, baby. I’m dying for you.”
“Take what’s yours.”
A growl echoes in the small room, and in a flash, I find myself twisted around and his mouth crashing against mine.
Clothes come off with greedy hands until they’re strewn across the room. Pants dangling from a cabinet pull, a shirt hanging halfway out of the sink. Utter chaos.
Crew backs up until he crashes into a chair. Instead of brushing it aside, he sits down, taking me with him. My legs straddle either side of his hips, positioning his cock right at my entrance. With barely the chance to take a breath, one of Crew’s hands grips my hip while the other wraps around his shaft to guide himself inside my pussy.
“Oh…” I moan as my body adjusts to his size.
Crew’s hand that was around his dick moves to caress my breast, urging me to move.
“That’s it, sweetheart, take what you want. Make yourself feel good.”
Just his voice does enough to make my body frantic for more. More friction. More kisses. More everything.
Barely able to touch the floor with more than the tips of my toes, I rock against Crew, loving the way his hips move against my clit with each thrust.
Crew’s hand fists in my hair, tilting my head back so his lips can assault my neck before he wraps his other arm completely around my waist, holding me still as he pistons his cock in and out of my sex.
My legs quake beneath me, so I know my orgasm is close.
“Crew.”
“I know. I’m close, too. Let me feel you fall apart.”
Somehow, his thrusts increase in speed until we’re both plummeting over the edge toward our release.
“Fuck,” Crew barks as he holds our sweaty bodies together. “You’ve ruined me, Bailey. Nothing compares to this.”
Too exhausted to reply, I can’t help but think to myself that he’s absolutely right. Nothing will ever compare to being like this with Crew. I can only hope that my heart won’t break if he decides to leave.
