“I do happen to have a five thirty wake-up call.”
“Yeah, I have a meeting with Hux tomorrow at his place.”
“Okay, well . . .” Her fingers dance along my shirt. “I guess I should walk you to the door.” She gets off my lap and then holds out her hand. I take it, and we walk over to her front door together. I slip on my shoes, and when I’m done, I stand tall and find her leaning against the wall right next to the door, her hands behind her back. “Thank you for coming over.”
“Yeah, I had a nice time, even though you’re not a fan of the Kylo Ren and Rey love affair.”
“I just can’t get on board,” she says, holding steady. “Sorry. Doesn’t work for me.”
“Such a disappointment,” I teasingly reply and then take a step forward. I hook my finger under her chin, close the space between us one more time, and hover right above her lips, waiting for her.
She closes the rest of the distance between us and smooths her hand up my chest while her mouth opens, encouraging mine as well. I drop my free hand to the wall next to her head, propping myself up, and deepen the kiss, letting my tongue explore now.
Her hands float up to my cheeks, where she cups them. Her tongue matches my strokes, and for the first time in a few months, I make out right there in the entryway of a girl’s apartment.
I revel in the feel of her soft lips.
I sink into the grasp she has on my cheeks.
And when she gasps for a touch of air, I commit it to memory.
I’ve forgotten what it feels like to be intimate with a woman, and this feels good.
When I pull away, her lashes lift as her eyes connect with mine. I smile down at her and say, “Better?”
“Much.” She runs her tongue along her lips. “So much better.”
“Good.” I lean down and press one more kiss to her lips before pulling away. “I’ll see you Saturday for that hike.”
“Yes, Saturday,” she replies as I open the door to her apartment and head out. “Night, Breaker.”
“Night, Birdy,” I say just before I take off down the hall.
* * *
“Morning, Breaker,”Lottie says as she answers the door to her house. “How are you?”
“Good,” I say. “What about yourself?” She isn’t dressed for the day yet, still in a robe with her hair up in a bun.
“Doing okay.” Huxley appears just then and loops his arm around her waist. He presses a kiss to the side of her head and says, “Can I get you anything?”
She shakes her head and pats his hand. “I’m good.” And then she walks toward the kitchen, Huxley’s eyes watching her every step.
“What does it feel like?” I ask him.
When he turns toward me, he asks, “What does what feel like?”
“To be that in love. You’re so protective, possessive, infatuated. I don’t think I’ve ever been like that with someone.”
“Of course you have,” he says. “You’re that way with Lia.”
“Lia and I aren’t romantically involved.”
“You might not be, but you know how you get when Brian’s mom picks on her, that instinctual feeling like you will do fucking anything to make sure no one hurts your girl? That’s the feeling. That deep-seated feeling that never goes away.”
I slowly nod my head. “I get that feeling with Lia, but not on a romantic level, on a best friend level.”
“Well, when you finally fall in love with someone, that feeling you have with Lia will transfer over. Why do you ask?” He heads toward his office, and I follow him.
