I reach for her, but she’s so off-balance we go toppling into the sand, her landing on top of me while I take the brunt of the impact.
Her body on top of mine must short-circuit my brain because when she gasps and tries to move off me, I hold her tighter and tangle my fingers in her hair.
“You were right,” she whispers.
“About what?”
“The landing was prettyhard.” Her hips rock gently against mine, illustrating her point as I harden beneath her. It’s impossible to stop my self-satisfied grin as she stares down at me with those big green eyes. Leaning up, I let my gaze fall to her mouth before traveling back up, making my intentions clear.
Because I want this—and I know she does too.
“What are you doing?” she pushes as I lift my head off the ground and pull her down to meet me.
“Trying to impress you,” I murmur.
“By causing a scene?”
“You’re worth it,” I breathe against her lips.
“Then get to it.”
Our first kiss had been feverish—the clashing of tongues and teeth, battling for dominance while I pulled her impossibly closer to me in that darkened corner. This is nothing like that but just as good.
It’s unhurried as her tongue slides against mine, and I feel the small nip of her teeth against my bottom lip before she’s diving back into my mouth, the sweetest seduction.
“We should take this back to my house,” she whispers, dipping her head to nibble on my earlobe. My groan rumbles through my chest, and she chuckles as she climbs off me and offers me her hand.
It’s a simple gesture, but it feels like so much more in this moment.
Taking it, I let her pull me up but she doesn’t let go, instead pressing her tits against my chest as she looks up at me.
“I’m a no-sex-on-the-first-date kind of girl.”
“What about tryin’ to take me home after karaoke?”
“That’s a hookup, totally different.”
The growl that escapes is completely involuntary, and I hold her to me tighter, making her giggle and snuggle closer.
“Are you a watch-a-Christmas-movie and make-out-on-the-couch kind of girl?”
“I might be.”
“Let’s go find out.”
13
ASPEN
Isaw tonight going differently. Specifically, I saw myself falling asleep on the couch alone, with the television softly playing every version ofbig city character falls in love with a small-town love interest.
Instead, I’m leaning into Phoenix’s touch, the warmth of his hand seeping into my back as I try and unlock the front door. It takes two attempts, and like the gentleman he apparently is now, Phoenix keeps his comments to himself as we step inside the foyer.
It’s quiet and my heart starts racing as I realize I’ve never actually been alone with him…not really.
“We don’t have to do anything,” I hear him say as I kick off my boots and place them carefully on the mat.
“I was just thinking this is the first time we’ve really been alone together. It’s weird,” I say with a shrug. “I really liked you, and after what happened at Mug Life that night, I just figured we’d exist in the same space rather than interact.”
