I gasp against his mouth, and he doesn’t hesitate. His lips press harder, deepening the kiss with an intensity that matches the heat pooling low in my stomach. It’s everything I never knew I needed and more. Explosive. Consuming. His tongue traces the seam of my lips, and when I open for him, he groans, a sound so raw and hungry it vibrates through my entire body. The taste of him is addictive, and I crave more with everypassing second. His tongue slides against mine, not demanding but coaxing.
I press closer, my hands fisting in his jacket, desperate for something to hold on to as his kiss turns possessive. His teeth graze my bottom lip again, tugging gently before soothing the sting with his tongue.
His other hand moves down to my waist, fingers digging into my hip. A soft moan escapes me as he pulls me flush against him, the hard planes of his body pressing into mine.
I’m completely lost in him. It’s just us and the way his tongue moves against mine, the heat of his body, making me feel like I’m the only thing that matters in this whole world.
We stumble back, crashing against the bike, its cold metal digging into my back. His body molds perfectly against mine, and suddenly I can’t tell if we’ve been kissing for minutes or hours. Or hell, maybe it’s been seconds, but none of it matters. The only thing that does is him, and the way he feels so damn good, soright.
He pulls away and steps back. I’m left standing in front of him, breathless, my heart hammering like it’s trying to make a break for freedom.
I’ve been wandering around in a layer of emotional fog, and he’s the one who’s managed to pull me out of it. I could try to convince myself that it’s just the adrenaline, the way his lips felt like they were made for mine, or the way he looks at me like I’m not just a random person in his life but, I don’t know,important.
Deep down, I know better. It’s not just the kiss—thoughholy hell, the man kisses like he was put on this earth solely for that purpose. And it’s not just the rush, or the way my chest feels like it’s about to explode every time he looks at me like I’m his favorite problem to solve.
It’s everything. It’s the way he texted me good morning forsix months straight, no matter the time zone. The way he remembered that I hate bananas but love banana flavoring. It’s how he actually listened when I vented about work and never once made me feel like I was too much. It’s how he makes me laugh when I least expect it and somehow always knows when I need a minute of quiet instead of words.
It’s the way he makes me feel like I could completely fall apart, and he’d be there, hands out and ready to catch every piece without a second thought.
fourteen
BREE
“What do you mean he’s going into work today? Doesn’t he know he’s supposed to be out here, whisking you off on a romantic, honeymoon-worthy adventure?” I tease into the phone.
Juliette’s laughter bursts through the line. “We’re leaving for our honeymoon tomorrow, so he had to go to the distillery to wrap some stuff up,” she says. “Besides, now I get to hang out with you all day. Get your butt over here.”
“Well, in that case, yes, ma’am. Let me just check with your aunt to see if it’s okay to borrow her car for the day.” I start heading toward the kitchen.
“She’s already good with it,” she assures me. “I texted her this morning.”
I chuckle. “All right then, I’ll be there in a bit!”
I hang up with Juliette, toss a quick goodbye to Rose, and grab the keys from the counter. As I slide on my boots—yes, the ones Callan gave me—I can’t help but give them an extra moment of attention. Like, seriously, how did a pair of boots end up making everything more…real?
Yesterday waswonderful. Callan is like the perfect cocktail of funny, witty, and so easy to be around. Also, ridiculously hot. Even so, it’s not just his charm or the way he can make me laugh at the most random times. It’s the way he makes the world lighter. He’s got an energy I didn’t know I needed until he walked in and handed it to me on a silver platter.
When he brought me back to Rose’s place, I could practically feel the hesitation hanging in the air. Both of us were trying to figure out how to stretch the moment without actually saying it out loud. He didn’t want to say goodbye, and I sure as hell didn’t want to let go either. It was like we both knew something, but neither of us was ready to acknowledge it yet.
Now, here I am, pulling up Juliette’s gravel driveway. She’s sitting on the porch, glowing in a way that only someone about to become a mom can, like the universe itself is shining down on her.
“Hello, precious mama!” I squeal, completely forgetting how to walk for a second and nearly tripping over my own feet as I dash up the porch steps. I throw my arms around her, squeezing her like I might never let go. It still doesn’t seem real. My best friend, the one who used to steal my clothes and gossip about the guys we used tothinkwere cute, is going to have a baby. Ababy.
It feels like just yesterday we were two clueless teenagers trying to figure out how to survive high school, and now…now she’s about to bring a tiny human into the world. It’s surreal in the best way.
“How is my future niece or nephew treating you?” I ask, plopping down on the chair next to her.
She flashes a grin, her hand instinctively resting on her stomach like it’s already second nature. “Not too bad. So far, I’m just horribly exhausted. And a little nauseous, but I’m not complaining.”
“Ah, the joys of pregnancy. This is amazing, Jules. You and Knox are going to have the most gorgeous baby on the planet. Seriously. I’m so excited for you.”
I swallow hard, trying to push the lump in my throat down before it decides to make an appearance. The truth is, I wish I could be here for all of it. The doctor’s appointments, the cravings, the late-night chats where she vents about everything. I’m going to miss so much of this just because I’m too far away.
“Thanks,” she says quietly. She gives me a slight smile, but then her expression shifts. “So uh, I think we have something to talk about?”
Oh. Yep, that’s fair. I pause, and for a split second, it feels like my heart might launch itself straight through my ribs. I give her an exaggerated eye roll, trying to pretend like I’m not internally panicking. “You’re talking about me with my tongue down your brother-in-law’s throat in the middle of your wedding reception, I assume?”
She leans forward with that glint in her eye, the one that meansyou better spill, and I know I’m not getting out of this. Looks like we’re definitely having this conversation now.
