Green eyes that reminded me of endless fields and vintage Coke bottles met mine and didn’t look away. I held her gaze as I slowly tucked a lock of hair that had fallen from her ponytail behind her ear.
Willow was the one to take the closing step forward, pressing her body to mine. I cradled the back of her neck, threading my fingers into her hair. Willow let out a quiet gasp as I curled them around the strands at the nape of her neck.
Cookie dough flecked her throat and jaw. I tightened my grip on her hair and tilted her head back, latching my mouth to the first speck of dough.
Her chest rose as she sucked in a breath, but it only made me hold her closer. I wrapped my arm around her waist, keeping her body flush against mine as I sucked and licked at the delicate skin. I kissed my way up to the corner of her jaw as her knees buckled and she melted against me, nipping just enough to leave a little mark that would fade by morning.
Willow tilted her head to the side, opening her throat to me as wanton whimpers escaped her lips. I licked my way up to her ear and sucked the divot behind her earlobe until those whimpers turned to moans.
“Ryan,” she whispered as need began to take over.
I kissed my way back down her jawline, nuzzling beneath her chin as I lapped at the cookie dough and sugar that coated her clavicle.
Her hips pressed into mine. There was nothing I could do to hide my erection, but Willow didn’t seem to mind. Her body rocked and swayed as she gave into the intrinsic, primal need that had been growing between us.
Only when those moans were stifled did I break away. When I looked up, Willow was biting her lip to stay quiet as her lungs begged for air.
“Don’t do that, beautiful,” I said as I pressed my thumb to her lower lip and pulled it from between her teeth.
Her eyes went wide. “Why not?”
“I’m jealous of the air you breathe because it gets to kiss your lips.” I slanted my mouth over hers as she exhaled sharply. My voice turned to a gravel-filled whisper. “It’s not anywhere near what I want from you, but if the only satisfaction I ever get is to breathe the same air as you, then I’ll make it be enough.” I scraped my teeth along the supple pout of her lower lip. “Don’t ever bite this lip when I can do it for you. Because the air you breathe is the only thing that has ever truly filled my lungs.”
Her inhale and cry of delight was sharp as I pulled her lip between my teeth and sucked.
But it wasn’t enough.
It would never be enough.
“Kiss me,” she whimpered as I drew her lip out then dove in to do it again. “Please.”
“Are you begging?”
Willow nodded. “Yes.”
“It’s about fucking time,” I growled as I backed her up against the countertop and kissed her square on the mouth.
Willow moaned into my mouth, and I took advantage, sweeping my tongue against hers. She raked her hands up and down my chest as I held her firmly, keeping her in place.
I wanted to touch her. I wanted to unfasten those overalls and peel them down her legs. I wanted to explore every inch of skin until I knew her better than I knew myself.
Willow pulled back for air, but I swallowed down each breath and kissed her again and again and again. Her fingers slipped beneath my shirt, smoothing up and down my chest and stomach.
I slept shirtless most nights, but this was different. This wasn’t just her skin against mine. It was a message. This was Willow telling meexactlywhat she wanted.
She rolled her hips against mine, seeking pleasure we weren’t ready for. As much as I wanted to say “fuck it” and take her right there on the kitchen counter, it wasn’t time. We still had work to do.
My touch gentled as hers hastened. The oven beeping to signal that it had finished preheating startled both of us out of the haze.
“Tell me something, Wills,” I whispered against her lips, not quite ready to lose that connection yet. “Can I kiss you again?”
“I never said you had to stop.”
Slowly, I released her hair and cupped her cheeks, giving her one more slow kiss. Her lips were soft and warm, and she opened immediately to let me in. As quickly as the kiss began, it ended.
“I meant tomorrow,” I said as I rested my forehead against hers. “And the day after that. And the day after that.”
The request gave her pause. Willow’s brows creased in the middle, and I knew I was right to keep taking it slow.
