I work her through her orgasm, lapping gently as she shudders and shakes above me, drinking down every last drop until she’s tugging weakly at my hair, oversensitive and gasping.
Only then do I lift my head, grinning like the animal I feel like I am. Not only have I gotten a good taste of her, but I also made sure not to leave any crumbs behind.
Before she’s even finished trembling, I’m on my feet, stepping between her thighs. Her hand’s still there, still pressed against herself, and I cover it with mine.
“Beautiful.” The word’s barely a whisper against her lips. “Absolutely fucking beautiful.”
She’s still catching her breath, still hazy from her release, and I want to memorize every second of it. Want to brand this image behind my eyelids so I can call it up whenever I need it.
Peppering kisses against her chest and her neck, I finally end up at her mouth. Coaxing her with my tongue, I thrive off the way she clings to me. Makes it easy to hook her legs around my waist so I can pick her up.
“How about we get you cleaned up and then hit the town?” Murmuring the question against her lips, I thrive at the gasp that leaves her when I easily pull her from the table. “Or are you zapped out of energy?”
If she wants, after we’re both cleaned up, I’ll take her to my bed and keep her to my chest while she recoups. Right now, I’m ready to do anything as long as she’s within my reach.
Pulling away from my kisses, she hides her face in the crook of my neck and nods. “Going to town sounds nice. Let’s do it.”
7
Tatum
Abel insists on buying more than just a pair of hiking boots. Despite looking a little uncomfortable once we hit the small patch of shops lining the streets, he quickly adapted by busying himself by asking if I’d want a new water bottle, or a new pack to carry my belongings in.
The way he was eyeing the different bathing suits, I’m surprised that he didn’t ask if I wanted one of those, too.
Insisting on dragging me to more than one place, stopping for the kind of coffee I could possibly find back in the city, and showing off everything the town has to offer, he guides me to our last stop. The Maplewood Diner. Taking me out for dinner wasn’t on my bingo card for today, but neither was having this man making me see stars with his tongue.
The diner is filled to the brim, and nearly every table is filled. It’s a little hard to hear him over the chatter, but there isn’t muchroom left to chat once the food comes out hot. Smells incredible and tastes even better.
“So…” Leaning over the table, he eyes my half-eaten burger and lifts a bushy brow. “What do you think about Willowbrook Ridge?”
When he shifts in his seat, like he’s nervous, I start to figure out what all this is about. Telling him that the town is nice isn’t going to cut it. Not after he dragged me around while being on a mission.
At the thought of him wanting to show me what I assume are the best bits of this town, my stomach fills with more than this delicious food. The butterflies are soaring as they please, but the last thing I want to do is get ahead of myself here.
“I’m surprised it’s not more populated than it is. It’s a quaint little town that should be more than a little dot on the map.” Looking around, I watch the waitresses stop at tables and chat up the people eating like they’re more friends than a transaction. “I’ve got no complaints.”
He nods, and I catch the small smile on his lips. It’s a fleeting thing, there and gone, but it does something to my insides. Makes them warm.
“Good.” He clears his throat, picks at the crinkled straw wrapper next to his plate. “That’s… good.”
The silence that follows isn’t uncomfortable, but it’s heavy with something unsaid. I watch him, watch the way his other hand lightly taps at the table, the way his jaw works like he’s chewing on words instead of the fry he just popped into his mouth.
“Abel,” I say his name gently, prodding. “What is it?”
He looks up, and for a second, he looks almost boyish. Unsure. It’s a stark contrast to the man who had me pressed against his kitchen table just a few hours ago, and the shift makes my heart clench.
He holds my gaze, and the nervous energy shifts into something more focused. More intent. “You should stick around.”
The words make my heart skip a beat. Feeling my pulse kicking, I have to ask to make sure for certain that I’m not getting my hopes up here. “For the entirety of the week?”
“No.” He shakes his head, leaning forward, his forearms on the table. “I’m thinking much longer.”
I blink. Just when I think I’m prepared for the words, I find myself speechless. Is Abel really asking me to stay?
He takes my silence as a prompt to keep going, the words starting to tumble out in a rush. “Not on the mountain, necessarily. I mean, if you wanted to, but—there are cheap apartments in town. You could find a job, something cozy. The diner’s always looking for help, or there’s the library if you enjoy reading. It’s not the city, I know, but it’s… good here. The people are good.”
My heart is hammering so hard I’m surprised he can’t hear it over the clatter of dishes and the murmur of conversations around us.
