He trailed kisses down her cheek to her neck. “You don’t put out, remember?”
“Oh. Yeah.” She shivered as she felt his teeth just below her ear. “I could make an exception though.”
Smiling, he cupped her neck and lowered his mouth to hers.
Their lips touched and she swore the entire world stopped breathing. Everything went still—so still that she could hear the beat of his heart against her chest. It seemed to beat in time to hers. His lips brushed over hers gently but firmly, as if he knew what he wanted and was going for it.
She had no problem with that. In this moment, she wanted exactly what he did. She went soft against him and surrendered to him, letting him in.
It was perfect.
He didn’t rush her; he didn’t take complete charge. They went back and forth—he kissed her and let her kiss him when the need rose up in her.
His hand at her hip skimmed up her body, coming to rest under her breast.
She arched up, murmuring incoherently. “Yes.” She was glad they were in the dark, out from under the streetlights and the prying eyes of nosy neighbors.
“You want me to touch you?” he whispered against her lips.
“Please.” It was as close to begging as she’d ever gotten.
He slid his hand up and covered her, his thumb strumming her nipple.
She gasped into his kiss, her hands tightening on him.
“I knew your curves were perfect,” he said against her mouth.
She dropped her head back. She would have bumped the door hard if it weren’t for his head behind her head. She was about to caution him about waking up Lottie (how mortifying wouldthatbe?) but then he began to rub and pluck at her. She bit her lip to keep from whimpering. “Gosh, that’s good.”
He lowered his head to nuzzle her skin, right above the collar of her shirt. “Go out with me again.”
“Yes,” she said without thought. She wasn’t stupid.
He lifted his head and kissed her like he didn’t ever want to stop. She grabbed him to her and kissed him just as urgently, pressing herself closer to him, gasping when she felt his hard-on between them.
“Ignore it,” he murmured, kissing her over and over again.
“Ignorethat?” She pushed back and looked at him incredulously. “It’shuge.”
“Why, thank you.” He touched her cheek as he eased away from her. “Call you tomorrow?”
“Yes.” She paused, feeling raw, like her chest was splayed open and her emotions were overflowing. “I had a good time tonight, Jamie.”
“So did I.” He kissed her again, soft, like a whispered promise, before he let go of her reluctantly. “I’ll wait until you’re inside.”
Nodding, she let herself in quietly, hoping Lottie was asleep. She locked the door, resting her cheek against the door, listening.
After a second, she heard Jamie’s muffled steps going down the porch steps and then the creak of the gate.
Sighing, she stayed there a moment, replaying the kisses in her mind.
They wereglorious.
And then it hit her—she knew what she wanted. Kisses like that, for the rest of her life.
Nine
That kiss.