“I rarely make promises I can’t keep, so the best I can do is say that Imightnot get used to it.”
She laughed, the sound making impatience coil low in my gut. Now that the tension of the day was gone, my body wasbecoming more and more aware of her presence, the sweet scent of her perfume on every inhale and even the way she pressed her wine glass to her full lips.
“Rarely, but not never? What promises have you made but not kept, Alex Westwood?”
I shrugged, trying to ignore my libido in favor of keeping the lighthearted easiness of the moment. “A few. In eighth grade, I promised to give back Nate’s copy ofthe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobein the same condition as it was when he loaned it to me, but I only borrowed it to read to Charlotte and I might’ve told her it was okay to draw in it.”
Jane smiled. “That’s surprisingly sweet, that you read to your sister, but if you ever tell anyone they can draw in one ofmybooks, I’ll choke you with fresh basil.”
“That’s a weirdly precise threat.”
She pumped her eyebrows at me. “Mess with my books and find out if I’m serious.”
“Seriously, you’re giving me thefuck around and find outline?”
She stood to take our plates to the sink, and I moved before she could protest, scooping her up and throwing her over my shoulder. “Alex?—”
“I’m fucking around,” I said, smacking her ass as I carried her toward the stairs. “I really can’t wait tofind out.”
She yelped. “Absolutely not!”
“Too late,” I said, already grabbing the banister and heading up. “I was going to let you relax for a while longer, but youhadto go and throw down the gauntlet.”
“About my books,” she cried, laughing as she pounded her small fists against my back. “Put me down, you big oaf!”
“Nah.” I grinned, tightening my hold on her as she squirmed and tried to break free. “I’m not scared of fresh basil.”
“This is an OSHA violation!”
I laughed. “I’ll file the paperwork.”
She slapped my back again, still laughing. “Have you told anyone to draw in my books? Because if not, this is entirely unnecessary.”
I hauled her up the stairs with my heart pounding, smiling like an idiot. “You threatened me. With an herb. So yeah, it’s necessary.”
I didn’t put her down until we were inside my bedroom. She slid off my shoulder with a huff, swatting at my arm, but her cheeks were flushed and her eyes bright.
“Are you always like this when someone makes a joke with you?” she asked breathlessly.
“Only when I’m hungry,” I said, then corrected myself. No one could accuse me of not being honest to a fault. “Or when I want something.”
Her gaze flicked to my mouth before lifting back to my eyes. “And what do you want?”
I stepped closer without even thinking about what I was doing. Or maybe I was thinking and I just didn’t care anymore.Yeah, that’s the one.“You.”
It came out rough, less polished than I might’ve aimed for if I’d been trying, but Jane didn’t retreat. That was the thing about her—she never retreated.
She just tipped her chin up like she was daring me to finish what I’d started. I wrapped my fingers around her waist, eyes locked on hers as I tugged her a little closer. She answered by resting her hands on my chest with her fingers splayed, feeling me like she needed proof I was solid. Real.
“Alex,” she said, but it wasn’t a protest or out of exasperation this time.
It sounded more like a plea, and it was all the permission I needed to lean down and kiss her, not hungry or wild butdeliberate. I couldn’t have pulled back if I wanted to. I didn’t have that kind of restraint when it came to her. Not anymore.
She made a soft sound against my mouth and my hand tightened at her waist, pulling her closer until there was no space left between us. Her fingers slid into my hair, tugging hard enough that a slight sting coursed through me.
Whatever balance I’d been clinging to tipped and I kissed her harder, deeper. She melted into me, her body softening as she surrendered. She sighed as I pressed my mouth to her jaw, her neck.
I walked her backward until her knees hit the bed and she sat without breaking the kiss, pulling me down with her, laughter bubbling between breaths like this was somehow hilarious to her. “Remind me to threaten you more often.”
