Not wanting every other guest in the inn to hear our conversation from the hall. While keeping my hold on her, I walk her back a few steps and, standing on my good leg, lightly kick the door closed with my foot. “Do what?”
Her eyes volley between mine for several long moments before she answers. “Well, there are so many answers to that question that I don’t know where to start.” Her face flushes red, almost matching the color of her nose as her eyes lower to my chest.
Cupping her chin, I lift her face, so she’ll look at me. “Start with the answer that’s most important to you.”
She clears her throat and takes a breath of courage before she says, “I like you. A lot. But if you don’t feel the same way, there’s no reason to even say anything else. But if you do, I don’t want to taint anything… that is, if you even want to start anything with me… with my baggage.” She takes a breath, almost as if she’s just getting started.
She rattles off things about her plans to leave town when her car is fixed, which is a whole other issue, my taking a job out of state, and the impossibility of long-distance relationships. The most important thing I’ve heard is, ‘I like you,’ and really, thatwas all I needed, or wanted, to hear, and I can’t stop the smile that splits my face.
Since she rambles when she’s nervous, I set the pad of my thumb on her lips to stop her. She stops mid-sentence, and her eyes widen, the green sparkling up at me.
Sliding my thumb along her full bottom lip, I say, “I like you, too. A lot. That’s what matters; everything else we’ll figure out.”
“But...”
Cupping her head with my hands, I shake my head, and she stops. “No buts. Starting something with you is something I want in the worst fucking way. All of you, baggage and all. You’re the first thing I think about when I wake up and the last thing when I’m going to sleep. You’ve hijacked my damn thoughts every day since that night we found you on the highway. Can we start there?”
Her eyes fill with tears as she takes a deep, shaky breath and blows it out, nodding her head. “We can start there.”
Her green eyes look at me with emotions that touch every part of me. I never knew I could feel like this. She makes me feel whole again. “Good, because I’m going to kiss you now.” I don’t give her time to respond; I softly press my lips to hers.
Her fingers grasp my wrists as she opens to me, and I slide my tongue over hers, tasting the sweet tartness of… gummy bears?
The kiss becomes more demanding, and she surprises the fuck out of me when she comes back with as much passion as I’m giving - my shy redhead has some fire in her. Her soft lips suck on mine, but when she nips my bottom lip with her teeth, my dick turns to stone.
Pulling back with a smirk, I want to see her face. I want to see what she looks like when I wake up something in her that no one else sees. The feeling is fucking euphoric. Blooms of pink are on her cheeks as she lazily opens her eyes.
Her eyebrows lift in surprise, and she smiles. “What? No biting?”
With a huff, I lift one side of my lips. “Sugar, you can bite me when or wherever you want.”
Letting go of my wrists, she slides her hands up my chest and over my shoulders, pressing her body against me as she continues the kiss. The combination of her full, soft breasts and hard nipples dragging across my chest has my cock throbbing behind the zipper of my jeans.
Needing to feel her skin, I slide my hands up the perfect globes of her ass and under the bottom of her shirt to loop my arms around her waist. She’s just as smooth as I thought she would be as I wrap my fingers around her ribs. So silky soft, she’s fucking perfect.
Breaking the kiss, keeping her arms looped around my neck, she sets her forehead against mine. “I have to go to work.”
Shaking my head, I squeeze her to me harder. “No, I want to talk to Rhys and my soon-to-be-boss.”
“I have to go to work.” She doesn’t elaborate, and I know she’s thinking of her car. I make a mental note to call Ryder tomorrow.
“Just miss one night. Give me a chance to make some calls. Please.”
Trying to pull away from me, but I hold tight, she sets a palm on my chest and smiles as she holds up one finger. “Stony is there, he keeps a weapon under the bar.” She snaps her second finger up. “It’s Thursday night, and we’ll be busy all night.” Another finger pops up as she brushes her lips against mine. “You’ll be there for your dinner, and you can bring me back.”
Our eyes are locked as I think about her points. She’s right. I’ll be there. But this time I’ll have my sidearm on me. Giving her another kiss, I let her go. “Okay, but I’m taking you.”
21
NORA
THE PUBis busy. I knew it would be. Thursday nights are sometimes as busy as Saturday night. Tuck brought me to work and walked in with me, getting us some looks from some regulars who were already there, and Stony.
With his usual grumpy face in place, he doesn’t pay any attention to anyone as we walk together across the bar. The only deviation from his usual routine is his palm sliding across the small of my back as we part ways, he to his table and me to the break room. It’s a light touch, a comforting touch, confirming he would be right there.
Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but that minor gesture speaks volumes to me. Not only is it sweet in its intention, but it shows a sort of protective dominance, and the palm shaped heat soaking through my clothes to kiss my skin sends a shiver up my spine wanting more.
Sammy practically attacks me as we walk into the break room. “O.M.G!” She drags out the letters on a whisper-hiss as she grabs my arm like we’re in high school. “You just walked in with Tucker Harlow like it’s not a huge damn deal! Spill! Are you two knockin’ boots?”
