She didn’t respond, just squeezed me tighter and moved forward, and suddenly, all the tension I’d felt vibrating between us funneled through the micro-movements of our bodies, the gentle pulling of our arms, and our quiet, quick breaths.
My hands, of their own volition, opened and moved to the small of her back, briefly exploring the natural arch of her waist and hips. Maybe I would’ve stopped there and let her go, but a long heady sigh slipped from her lips as she softened into me—nearly melting through my arms. Her footing faltered only for a moment before she stretched out, moving the loop of her arms from my shoulders to my neck and tightening her hold.
One of my hands wandered up her spine until my finger tips sunk into the roots of her hair. Her breath shuddered against my neck. As if I’d granted her permission, her hand did the same, slipping into the hair on the back of my neck.
She was water on a parched tongue.
When she made a soft humming sound, I should’ve let go. That was my cue—we were past time. But I didn’t and neither did she.Instead, she shifted her hips in line with mine and a strangled, throaty exhale emanated from deep within me.
I couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe.
Why were we hugging each other like this? This kind of touching was completely unwarranted, but I couldn’t make myself care as her curves pressed against me.
Hollie was the perfect size, the perfect fit for my arms and chest. She turned her face toward my neck, drawing a breath in through her nose—smelling me.
Suddenly, a hug didn’t feel like nearly enough.
The notion to lean down and kiss her felt barbaric, but in my book, kissing was this hug’s natural progression. I dragged my cheek across her temple, and she lifted her face, like she wanted the same thing I did. And I wanted to taste her—hell, I wanted to spend a long time tasting her. I wasn’t that guy who sought hook ups or would try to entice a woman, but the temptation was right there at my fingertips.
I could’ve—definitely would’ve—pulled away if her hunger didn’t rival my own.
But she lifted her face until we were cheek to cheek. The burning torture rended my insides until I drew my face away an inch or two and settled my forehead against hers. Her breaths came fast, her soft chest moving with each puff of her lungs.
When her gaze settled on my lips, my tongue slipped out to wet them.
She wet hers, too.
Utterly helpless against whatever this was, I leaned forward. Right before my mouth brushed hers, the door swung open and banged on the wooden railing.
NINE
Hollie
Jesse jumped away from me so quickly, I stumbled. The pain in my ankle tweaked as I scrambled to put space between the two of us, and my cheeks flushed with heat faster than I could blink.
I glanced at the door, disappointed to find that it wasn’t the wind that ripped it open.
Jackie stood there—hands on her hips, eyes narrowed.
I scanned the porch for my daughters, but thank goodness, they hadn’t followed her.
What if they had?
Mydaughterswould’ve discovered me arm-in-arm with another man. Before I could even turn to face my sister, nausea ripped up my throat. I was going to be sick—keel over right here on the porch. Why, oh why, did it have to be Jackie, of all people?
She could be ruthless.
Jesse stepped away, keeping his face turned from Jackie. His deep breaths seemed to echo. Mine, too.
That hug had left me so unmoored, I could hardly tell up from down or left from right.
“Well, well.” Jackie’s voice poked. “Did I interrupt something?”
I slowly found my tongue. “We—were just saying goodnight.”
Jackie arched a brow, her eyes roaming my face then darting to Jesse. “Thatwas saying goodnight?”
Jesse cleared his throat. “I should be going.” I expected him to run away into the darkness, but he turned to me and grabbed my hand. “Ice your foot one more time, alright? And elevate it. I’ll see about getting a brace or some?—”
