Page 101 of Heidi Lucy Loses Her Mind
So I wrap my legs around his waist, tighten my arms around his neck, and kiss him with everything I have.
26
IN WHICH SOREN’S DREAMS COME TRUE
This woman. She will be the death of me—the sweet, beautiful death. She’s fire and ice, open and closed off, playful and serious—and she’s kissing me with a fervor that makes my head spin. Her touch, always so hesitant before, is growing more sure.
My grip on her tightens as her legs wrap around me, and I fight the impulse to pick her up and move her somewhere more comfortable. This is one fire that will burn dangerously if we let it, so I think it’s best to stay where we are.
I let my lips play with Heidi’s, trying to monitor my grip on her so that I don’t leave bruises. I don’t want to scare her or hurt her or give her a negative experience in any way—especially because if I have my way, I’ll be kissing her like this for the rest of our lives. Her body is warm pressed against mine, and soft—sosoft—and I would like to live here, like this, forever.
I force myself to slow down, to loosen my grip, to move things in a calmer direction; she matches the change, her hands playing lazily in my hair as the kiss morphs into something slow, languid, delicious. Her head drops back as I press my lips up and down her jaw, her neck, savoring every inch of skin, inhaling her, breathing her in—her ragged breaths send electricity through my veins until there’s nothing I want more than to carry her off to the nearest bed.
Which is how I know it’s time to pull back.
I give her one last kiss, deep and lingering, before removing my arms from around her and placing them firmly on the counter again.
“I’m so—” I gasp, trying to catch my breath. “I’m—”
In love with you. I’m so in love with you.
But I don’t think I can say that, as much as the words keep trying to burst free. Not yet. She’s not ready.
“I’m a really big fan of yours,” I finally say instead, letting my head rest against hers. “Do you know that?”
“Mmm,” she murmurs, a little smile curling her red, freshly kissed lips. “I think so.” She hesitates and then says, “I’m a pretty big fan of yours too, Man Bun.” The words are hoarse, tinged with vulnerability, so I let go of the counter and cradle her face in my hands.
I press a feather-light kiss to her nose, to her cheeks, to each of her eyelids.
Let’s get married. Let’s live together forever.
“Let’s get you some rest,” I say instead. “And let’s figure out our next move.”
“What next move?” she says, pulling back slightly so she can look me in the eye. “With the two of us?”
“No,” I say, smiling. “I thinkthatnext move is clear, isn’t it? Can I date you? Can I take care of you? Can I kiss you whenever I want?”
Her already pink face blooms in color once more, and I watch as she tries and fails to fight her smile. “I suppose,” she says. “But I’m not sleeping with you yet,” she adds quickly.
“I can’t even think about sleeping with you right now or I’ll lose my mind,” I admit, my voice dry. “I’m a commitment guy anyway. We’ll take things very slow. As slow as we need.”
She nods, that little smile tugging further on her lips. “I can’t—” she begins, pressing her palms to her cheeks and then burying her face in her hands. “I can’t stop smiling!”
I laugh, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her close. She’s precious. Adorable. I want to kiss her again.
But there’s a time and a place, and my self-control is not perfect, so I let go of her and step back. “All right,” I say, holding out my hand.
She takes it and then hops down from off the counter—the counter that I will never look at the same way again—before looking up at me.
“Velvety tongue!”Jojo squawks from behind us, and we both jump.“Velvety tongue!”
We turn to the bird, our eyes wide.
“Does your psycho bird know we were making out in front of him?” I whisper.
“That’s not possible,” Heidi says, her eyes narrowing as she looks at Jojo. Then she glances at me. “Is it?”
“Hmm,” I say, my gaze still on the parakeet. “What kind of nonsense did you guys listen to with him in the room?”
