CHAPTER TWO
Pullingthrough the gates of Meadow Circle Apartments, I’m expecting to park and go retrieve Juliet, but as soon as I make it in front of her building, I see her pacing along the breezeway. Her body is wrapped in an emerald, green dress, her hair is curled in soft waves, and I can see the shine of gold jewelry flickering off the floodlights. A breath catches in my chest at the sight.
The feelings that overcome me—the way I want to claim her and tell her every second how fucking beautiful she is—make me wonder how she can’t see that herself. I’ve known this woman for less than seventy-two hours and the hold she already has on me is strong.
Smiling, I maneuver into a parking spot and then exit my car. I walk to where she’s pacing and wait for her to notice me, but her eyes are pointed to the ground as she mumbles to herself.
“It’s okay, Juliet. He’s already seen you naked and you haven’t scared him off yet. Get yourself together!”
“Scare me off? There was never—and never will be— a chance of that.” I chuckle.
She stops in her tracks and moves her eyes to mine. “Shit.” She smacks her forehead. “You weren’t supposed to hear that.”
I step closer and grab her wrist, ignoring the small purse hanging from it, then lean down and kiss the corner of her mouth.
She lets out a sigh and presses her forehead against mine, then closes her eyes. “Hi.”
“Hi,” I reply.
Taking a single step back, I keep her wrist clutched in my hand. Raising it up, I twirl her around to get a better look at her. The dress is fitted around her bust while the bottom is flowy. Her cheeks have a slight peach tint to them, and her eyelashes are elongated with a thin layer of mascara, but my favorite part is the cherry red lipstick painted onto her soft, pouty lips.
“You look beautiful.” I jerk her toward me again and cup her face. I run my thumb below her bottom lip then lick my own. “I can’t wait to ruin that lipstick.”
Her mouth opens to take in a gulp of air. “Damnit, Reed. I’d like to make it to your place without ruining my dress.”
I raise a brow. “Oh?” Dropping my hand, I lean down slightly and push the hem of the fabric up her knee, just enough to slip my hand under it. “Does that mean you’ll be wet for me under there?”
I make it all the way to her hip before she squeezes her eyes shut and pants my name in a question. “Reed…?”
I toy with the lining of her panties as I look down to where my hand is under her dress. “Mhm?”
“I forgot my phone.”
I let out another chuckle and drop my hand. “Okay. I’ll wait while you grab it.”
She nods and tucks a piece of hair behind her ear. “I mean, you can come inside if you want?”
“Do you want me to?”
She shrugs but doesn’t reply. Instead, she starts walking down the breezeway, so I follow. When we make it to thirty-two A, she retrieves her key from the small clutch around her wrist and unlocks the door. She holds it open for me as she steps inside, then flips the switch letting warm light flood the entire space.
As I close the door behind me, I peer around. She has a bright orange couch with green throw blankets draped along the back. Glass end tables with golden legs and a matching coffee table sitting on a furry white rug. Colorful pictures hang on all the walls—some of plants, others of animals—but no family portraits. From what I can see, the style of her place fits her perfectly.
A little chaotic and all over the place, but neat, clean, and beautiful.
“Give me just a second. I can’t remember where I left it,” she calls, starting down the small hallway off the living room.
I tuck my hands in my pockets and look around some more. Stacks of old records sit on the floor next to their player by the TV, and small succulents line the countertop that separates the kitchen from the living room.
I’m so focused on studying all the little details of her place, I almost don’t notice when a large black and white cat starts rubbing against my legs.
I squat down and run my hand along its back and it lets out a purr. “What’s your name?”
I ask like I’m expecting it to answer me, but instead, it’s Juliet’s voice that rings out. “That’s Augustus.”
“Augustus?”
She nods. “Because he likes chocolate. When I adopted him from the shelter, he had just come in and didn’t have a name. I figured after he was with me for a few days and adjusted, a name would come to me, and it did, but not how I was expecting.”