Page 40 of Austin

Oh, snap. Did he really just …

“You want to turn off that fact that you want to get in my pants?” My words come out barely coherent.

“Yes,” he answers honestly. “No.”

I swallow. “No?”

“Jalynn …” he starts but stops.

His eyes glaze over, laced with remorse. For what, I’m not sure.

My hand tentatively stretches out. I place it on his chest and feel it beating—no, pounding against the skin. My lashes flutter as I look up into his clear blue eyes. “What are you thinking about?”

His cobalt eyes turn midnight as he stares back at me. His Adam’s apple bobs with a swallow. “You.” His hand rises to my cheek and rubs a small circle along the skin. “I can’t stop thinking about the way your eyes change from green to brown, depending on what color shirt you’re wearing, or how you have this tiny vein that pops out of your forehead when you’re mad, which is a lot. I can’t stop thinking about how you chew on pen caps or how you’re always biting this lip.” His thumb moves to my mouth, pulling my lip out from between my teeth.

His hard body steps closer, molding to my soft one. He leans in ever so slowly, his hand now cupping my chin as that deliciously woodsy scent infiltrates my senses.

I let my fingers travel up his chest and over his throat, cradling his jaw in my hand. His face is a mixture of rugged and soft, just like him.

“Are you going to kiss me, Austin Sexton?” I ask.

“No.” He leans in even closer.

“No?” My eyes fall to his mouth, and I’m done for.

“Never.”

His lips lightly touch mine, checking for reassurance.

When a slight moan escapes my body and my shoulders drop, he moves in more. Pressing firmly against me and sweeping his tongue out for a taste. His kiss is soft and tender, making my entire body light on fire with a craving for more. I kiss him back, wanting every drop of what he’s offering, but he pulls away.

My heart is racing like wildfire, and my mind goes blank as I tame the ache swirling within me.

His forehead leans against mine as he takes a deep breath in. “Yep. That’s what I thought,” he whispers.

My mind finally decides to make a presence. “That’s what you thought?”

His mouth tips up with a smirk. “You want me.”

I push him away and raise a hand to wipe my mouth.

He stops me. “Don’t wipe it away. A kiss like that doesn’t deserve to be wiped away.”

My mind freezes again. I hate that this frustrating man kisses like a god and leaves me in a puddle of goo.

He turns, and once I have my space back, my brain decides to work again.

“This changes nothing.”

“This changes everything.” He gives a full smile, a rare one, which showcases his perfect white teeth. “Are you ready to leave for lunch?”

“I can’t take a lunch today.” My stomach disobeys me and says otherwise.

“You need to eat.”

I place a hand on my hip. “I had a lunch prepared, but you tossed it.”

“I gave it to a homeless man on the street.”