Page 21 of XOXO, Yours

He blinks. “That took a turn.”

“I’m serious.”

“I can tell.”

“I don’t want flowers or phone calls or awkward expectations tomorrow.”

“Okay.” He elongates the word as he says it.

“And this,” I motion between the two of us, “doesn’t become a thing.”

“Okay.”

I narrow my eyes. “That’s it?”

“What do you want me to say?”

“I don’t know. Men usually make this more complicated.”

“I’m trying very hard not to fuck this up.”

A laugh escapes before I can stop it.

“Smart man.”

Something flashes across his face at the word man.

Oh, for Pete’s sake. He’s entirely too pleased with himself.

I step closer.

Payton’s smile disappears.

“You understand what I’m saying?”

“Pretty sure.”

“One night.”

His eyes stay on mine. There’s no teasing now. Just a sudden intensity that makes the ten years between us feel a hell of a lot less significant than they did thirty seconds ago.

“One night,” I repeat.

Maybe for him. Maybe for me.

He nods.

And there it is. Permission. I don’t wait another moment. I grab the front of his jacket in both fists and kiss the hell out of him.

chapter

six

Payton

The moment Jules’s lips touch mine, every coherent thought leaves my head.

There’s just her mouth, warm and tasting faintly of lime. She makes a small sound low in her throat and blood rushes to my dick. My hands find her waist, and I squeeze her gently.