I start to shiver, too, although I’m not quite sure it’s because of the cold.
Amelia notices and frowns. “Get rid of that wet thing,” she says, nodding toward my hoodie.
I hesitate for a moment but then pull the hoodie off over my head just as I remember I’m not wearing a T-shirt underneath. I left the house in just my sweatpants, socks and shoes, and hoodie. Nothing else.
Amelia’s eyes widen as she sees me, but she doesn’t say anything. She just rubs her upper arms, goose bumps spreading over her skin.
“Come here.”
She looks at me with wide eyes, and I can sense her hesitation. “What?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.
I grab her hips and pull her into my lap so that she’s straddling me and start to rub her arms myself. “It’s going to get warm in here soon.”
She laughs a little shakily, her cold hands now on my chest, her fingers brushing against my chest hair. “How come I’m always freezing when I’m out with you?”
“It’s a scheme so I can have you close to warm you up again.” I chuckle, only half-joking.
Our eyes lock, and I can see the attraction there, the spark that’s been growing between us. I push her hair back, my fingers tangling in the wet strands.
“Hug me until you’re warm, and I smell like you,” I whisper.
She looks at me, her eyes searching, and for a moment, I think she’s going to pull away. But then she leans in, her armswrapping around my neck, and I breathe in the scent of vanilla and Amelia.
Holding her close, my chest tingles, and it hits me that…this is it.
Sheis it.
I’m always putting others first, making sure everyone else is happy and fine. But I never take what I want, never look for what makesmehappy.
I’m so done with putting everyone else above myself, even my best friend.
It’s been days, and he still hasn’t made a move.
It’s been days, and she still looks at me like that.
“Hey,” I whisper, and she leans back only a little to look at me. I can feel her breath on my lips. “Tell me what you want from me.”
There is a question in her eyes before amusement fills them as if she thinks I’m joking, then she’s hiding her face in my neck again.
“Amelia.” Her name leaves my lips like a sigh. Grabbing the back of her neck, I pull her away enough to look into her eyes again. I search them, and when I only see confusion, I lean in and kiss up her jawline.
“What are you…” she asks in a husky voice before her breath hitches when I kiss down her throat.
“I’m doing what I should have done four days ago,” I murmur against her skin.
Now, she leans away, looking down at me in shock. “But I thought… I mean… we’re friends?”
I cup her cheek, stroking her with my thumb. “Ladybug…” She squirms on my lap, and I have to groan and close my eyes, grabbing her hip with my other hand to keep her still, but it doesn’t help.
I’m so fucking hard it hurts.
This woman.
“Amelia, in the manliest way ever, I need to kiss you, or I’m going to cry.”
I thought this would make her smile, but the only thing it does is make her mouth open on a pant, and I let my thumb swipe over her bottom lip.
That plush fucking lip.
