Becca’s eyes get glassy, and I nudge Colton out of the way. “Piss off,” I mutter to him as I wrap an arm around my girl, taking my first full breath in almost twenty hours when she leans into me instead of pushing me away like she has every right to do after last night.
Colton’s smug smile makes me want to punch him, but he moves away quickly and talks softly to Holly. They head toward the door to the garage.
“I’ll grab Micah!” he yells as they walk through the door. “We’ll all go to dinner tonight!”
I growl but don’t argue.
I don’t mind spending a bit more time with my brothers and little Holly. But for now…I walk Becca backward until I reach the window to the garage. I twist the blinds until Colton’s smug face is hidden from view, then wrap my arm around Becca, caging her in.
“I missed you, and I’m really fucking sorry about last night, ” I say, lowering my face into the side of her neck. I love how tall she is. I press down on her a bit, liking how she takes my weight. Accepts it. I nudge her until she turns her head so I can bury my nose in my favorite spot, right where her jaw meets her neck.
As I breathe in, her unique mix of vanilla mixed with a hint of sweat gives me an immediate hard-on. Fuck. Who am I kidding? I’ve been hard since we pulled up out front. It’s my normal state when I’m around her..
Becca’s long arms wrap around my waist, and her head rests on my shoulder like it belongs there. It feels so right there. So perfect. I wonder for a moment how I’ll survive if I can’t feel her wrap me up again. The idea terrifies me more than anything has in a long time. I haven’t even had her, but she’s already in my blood, deeper than I’ve ever let a girlfriend. But I can’t dig her out now.
Even though she’s going to shatter me, leave me bleeding when this ends.
She hums and nuzzles closer to me, her breath warming the collar of my shirt, heating my skin. I feel a gentle tickle on my cheek where her hair catches on the stubble of my jaw.
“I missed you too. And I forgive you. But…” She pauses, and I hold my breath, waiting for it. “I think we’re going to need to talk about it.”
I nod in agreement, my heart in my throat. I don’t want to think about the outcome of that conversation, so I focus on her fingers, riding up and down my spine, the tingles spreading through my whole back. I add her soft touch to the little box in my mind.
I’m saving them, all these touches. I’ll pull them out and remember her when this breaks. I’ll remember the way she grabbed my arm when we watched that stupid low-budget horror movie. How she’d trace the outline of my hand, running her fingers along the lines and into the dips while she tells me about her day. How she ran her fingers over the stubble on my jaw, rubbing and smoothing, looking at me like she can see right through me.
I clear my throat, “How’s Holly doing?” I ask, changing the subject. “She picking everything up okay?” I want her to say no, that she needs more training. That we can rewind our ticking clock.
“She’s amazing, Kade. I’m so glad she took the job. She’s perfect.”
Fuck.
“And Micah? Has that settled down?”
Becca snorts and tightens her arms around me. “Not, really. I still don’t get it. I thought they’d be okay after their first meeting. I think he even liked her. But he’s still acting like a shit. He’s still scowling at her.” She shakes her head in confusion. “Anyway, Holly’s figured out how to deal with him. She’s scowling back.” She laughs. “She even wagged her finger at him yesterday. It was so funny, Kade. This little five-foot woman shaking her finger a foot above her head, right in Micah’s face.” She’s snorting now. “You should have seen the look on his face! He has no idea what to do with her.”
It’s my turn to snort. “Nah, he knows exactly what he wants to do with her. And what positions. He’s just fucking terrified to make a move.”
Becca rears back in my arms, her eyes wide. “NO! Seriously? Micah’s got the hots for Holly? I thought…maybe that first day, but then everything changed.” Her hands slap on my biceps. “Oh, my god! Well, now I have to replay every moment they’ve ever been together in my head!”
I grin and shake my head. “How the fuck did you miss that? You spend all day with them, Becca.”
She growls playfully and squeezes my arms. “I’ve been a little distracted, dude.” She licks her lips and pushes closer, taking my breath, her lips closing in on mine. “Thinking of you.”
I’m lost in her, in her soft hair and even softer mouth. My focus narrows in on her, the sounds of guys packing up in the garage fading. I tighten my arms around her lush frame, pulling her deeper into me, trapping her mouth with mine. I want all of her. I feel greedy, wanting more. Wanting everything. Like I have to get my fill now before she slips through my fingers. My hands race down her back, gripping and shaping. Her moans and restless hands. Pulling and pushing.
We ignite.
I want to push her against the wall. I want to strip off those leggings, leaving them bunched around her ankles. I want to sink into her. To disappear in her. To lose myself in the fantasy of us. In the fantasy of forever.
Colton’s loud voice echoing from the back breaks into my haze, and I pull myself away from her. My lungs heaving, breaths sawing in and out. I feel wrecked. Becca’s ragged breathing pierces through my fog. Her chest is heaving, nearly spilling out of the V of her shirt. I step toward her before yanking myself back, leaning against the wall.
“Dinner. Friends,” I force out.
The haze slowly fades from her face, and she nods. “Right. Dinner. Holy hell, Kade.” Her dazed smile chases away some of my cold spots.
When she smiles like that, I can almost imagine that everything will be okay. That our conversation will be fine, and things can stay exactly like this. But I don’t really believe it. I tear my gaze away from hers and mutter. “I’ll go grab them.” I slip around her careful not to touch her. Her smile falls from her face, and I know it’s my fault. I yank open the door to the garage, letting it bang closed behind me.
As I head toward the group huddled around Micah’s bay, I’m grateful for the dinner plan and my interfering friend. I’ll do whatever it takes to avoid the confrontation I feel coming.
