She doesn’t need to ask again. I lower my mouth and brush my mouth along hers until the hint of her lips parting has me firmly imprinting onto her. I wrap my arm around her middle to pull her to me flush as I kiss deeper. Harlow murmurs an indistinct sound, but I’m not worried, as she hooks her arms around my neck and sinks more into our kiss.
Our position slants, and I take the opportunity to slip my tongue past her lips to greet hers. I nearly growl from how good kissing her is. All day I’ve wanted to do it to her. But I honest to God have no clue what we’re doing or what our lines are.
We kiss and kiss some more until both of our mouths tip back and our noses scrape one another.
Harlow breathes out a long panting breath. “It’s better than last time.”
I scoff and grin in unison. “Just don’t run away this time.”
Her eased face turns slightly serious, and I realize that my choice of words might have just ruined the moment.
“I won’t run away,” she assures me. “It’s just a shame we live on opposite ends of the country, and tomorrow I have a flight back.”
A logistical nightmare.
But I’m selfish, and I bring my finger to her lips to shush her. “Let’s not think about that right now.”
Harlow circles her mouth, with my finger staying right where it is, as if she is using me as a paintbrush, right before her lips pucker out to kiss my fingerprint gently. “You know, I think about you in ways that if I were someone else, then you and I would have been naked already last night. I just…”
I pull her close to me to give her a firm hug. “I’m not going to lie. It’s taking a lot of endurance to keep myself in check. But I’ll do it for you. I’m like a man tethered to you.”
Harlow’s head retreats back slightly, and she peers up at me. “You know, tethers can break if someone has too much strength and persistence.”
I hook a finger and glide it along her cheek. “It also means that someone is holding onto the rope, and they have the power to pull back when needed or loosen their hold. Most of all, it means that you’re in control.”
Her eyes light up again. “Stone…” She stammers. “I don’t believe you have hardened edges that everyone seems to assume you have. Am I getting a side of you that’s new?” She seems bewildered.
“Yes,” I say point blank, and it makes her chuckle.
“Okay then, let’s get to bed.”
She quickly goes to the bathroom while I take off my shoes and empty my pockets. Sleeping in clothes isn’t ideal for my comfort level, which is why I debate if I should take my shirt off. I begin to tug on it but then stall.
Harlow enters the room, entertained. “It’s okay, you can take it off. Your jeans too if you want.” I want to bring a fist to my mouth to hold in any temptation, but I follow her lead.
Throwing my shirt to the side, Harlow walks straight to it and quirks her lips out. “Can I wear it to bed?”
The corner of my mouth hitches up, it feels like high school, yet more endearing. “Sure. I’m kind of honored that you enjoy my scent,” I say to lighten the mood.
I have to turn away when she throws off her own pajama top to put my shirt on. Someone upstairs should give me a gold star or at least a step back from the gates of hell for not sneaking a glimpse.
By the time we’re in bed, the heightened tension in the air completely vanishes into our own bubble of complete harmony. Nothing about this feels odd at all.
Even when Harlow rolls onto her side and slings a leg over mine. I wrap my arm around her as we stare at one another. I clear my throat as the smoothness of her skin on her legs melts onto mine.
She grins. “I take no offense if you have a hard-on at any point tonight and need to go shower,” she assures me.
I snort a laugh. “Thank you. I was wondering how this might go down. It’s a struggle not to be tempted by you and have my way. But I respect you too much.”
“I’m not made of glass, I won’t break. I’m just waiting until I know that it will be indestructible.”
I begin to comb her hair with my fingers. “Glass is always destructible, no?”
“It’s not if you’re in control, because then it doesn’t matter what happens. When it’s your own doing, if it breaks, then it’s because you broke it yourself so nobody else has the chance to shatter it.”
“You have a lot of strength, you know,” I inform softly her as our eyes dance in this sentimental aura that has that tether pulling me closer to her.
“I think so. But my point is… I’m waiting for the sign that I can let all my inhibitions go and feel again.”
