By the next episode, she’s resting her head on my shoulder, and I can barely keep it together. To top it all off, I’m already hard. Very hard. From hand holding and a shoulder cuddle—great.
She pauses the episode and unwinds herself from me. I’m about to protest when she says, “Restroom,” and pads to the back bedroom.
When she returns, she grabs my hand again, but doesn’t start the show. “Did you not want to watch anymore?” I ask, my voice unexpectedly husky.
“I wanted to try something first.” She looks at me, eyes shining in the light of the TV. She leans in and kisses me. With my free hand, I take her face and pull her in, deepening the kiss. There is something about this kiss, something monumental. I knew the next time we kissed, she would ask to be kissed. Not just in the moment and not because I started it. Something is building between us, and I think I want to let it happen. This kiss is slow, like she’s testing how it really feels for her. I know how it feels for me; it’s making my heart bang around inside me like a pinball machine, lighting up everything it touches.
“What was that for?” I ask when she pulls away.
“I just wanted to see if a kiss could just be a kiss.”
“And?” She’s starting to overthink things, I can see it on her face, so I continue, “It can be anything you want it to be…or not want it to be.” Her eyes bounce between my lips and eyes. She pulls further away from me, lost in thought, something stopping her.
“What’s going on in your head right now?” I push back a strand of silky blonde hair behind her ear.
“I guess…” She pauses and exhales a breath. “You have been with so many women…I don’t want to be that to you. I’m not the ‘hit it and quit it’ type. I tried that, and I’ve only had one long term boyfriend, and I don’t want to force anything on you or—” I pull her in for another kiss.
“Why’d you do that?”
“To stop you from talking and overthinking things. Sure, I’ve been with my fair share of women, but there is one thing that you are that they aren’t.”
“What’s that?” she asks, titling her head.
“You,” I say, squeezing her hand that’s still in mine.
“Me?”
“Yes, you. Don’t sound surprised. Now, can I keep kissing you? We can go as far, or not as far, as you’re comfortable with.”
I trail a hand up her arms, leaving goosebumps in their wake. Either this is going to be a hot make out session, or it’s going to involve a lot less clothing. I’m good with either option. I just need her to keep touching me, kissing me, letting me explore her as much as she’ll let me.
“You promise?” she asks, still looking unsure. I rear my head back at her uncertainty. It makes me wonder what could have happened to her in the past to make her think I wouldn’t stop when she asked me to.
“I promise, Regan. You say stop, we stop. No questions asked, no explanations needed. I’m not that much of a dick.”
She gives a smile and nods. “Kiss me, Dixon.”
I do, and it’s probably our best kiss yet. I never thought I’d be here, kissing Regan Brady of all people, and yet, here we are. She feels so perfect under my touch that I wonder whywe were at odds before. None of that matters now, all that matters is this—us.
TWENTY-EIGHT
REGAN
I toldhim to kiss me. Am I losing my mind or just thinking with my vagina? Damn, his lips are amazing, though. Yep, definitely thinking with my vagina. He teases my lips with his tongue, begging for entrance. I part them to let him in; I’m dying to fully taste him again. Our tongues tangle together in what seems like a fight to the death, each wanting more from the other.
We pull apart so that we can catch our breaths, that desire back in those emerald green eyes. He wants me the same way that I want him. I know he only does hookups and one night stands, but I don’t care. All I want is him, here and now.
Though I’ve tried doing the hookup thing in the past, they never work out—mainly for me. I have a tendency to get attached. And with what my last actual boyfriend did, well, let’s just say it’s been a while for me.
But Dean is my rival. I’m not going to get attached or end up in a relationship with my rival, right?
My mind is swirling, if I should or shouldn’t do this. Is it worth the risk of getting hurt? In a panic, as he’s coming back in for a kiss, I grab the popcorn bowl and dump it all over hishead. Kernels cover his brown hair and the pull-out around us. Dean opens his mouth in shock at what I’ve just done.
Now more than just desire is shining in those emerald green eyes, this is a challenge. I just stoked a fire and I’m not sure if that was what I was intending to do or not. But with the way that Dean is staring at me…I think I wanted to stoke those flames, and let them burn.
“What—?” he says, still in shock.
“Oops.” I playfully shrug and feign innocence. A coy smile crawls across his face, and I know I’m in for it. Maybe that’s why I did it to begin with, so he will take control and get me out of my head.
