Ah, fuck it.
I place the coffee I'm holding down on the table next to her front door, step closer, place my hands on her door frame, lean forward, and kiss her. The moment our lips meet, I know this isn't going to go to plan. It was only meant to be a quick kiss, but I can't fucking help myself. Juliette's lips are so damn soft and cause my brain to fire haphazardly so that I forget every thought I had in the moments before kissing her. Now my only thought is that I want more. I need more. Jesus, I want the keys to her whole fucking kingdom, but for now I'll settle for a kiss. Just not the kiss I had planned.
As my need takes over, I let go of her door and move so my body is pressing up against hers. Sliding my hands through her hair, I take hold of her head and angle it so I can capture her lips in a deep kiss. My mouth forces hers open and my tongue sweeps over hers.
I groan.
She tastes like apples and vanilla. And that perfume? It may be the death of my restraint. I've never smelt it before, but even in my lust-induced brain freeze, I'm making a mental note to find out what it is. I need to buy that shit by the truckload.
Fuck.
My lips and tongue grow more insistent and I push her to give me more. I want her as invested in this as I am, and I know she's holding back on me.
Show me what you want.
Gripping her head harder, I grind myself against her and growl through my kiss. And then she gives me a glimpse of the real Juliette—the one I met last night.
"Tanner," she moans as she pulls her mouth from mine, and fuck if that doesn't shoot more need through me. Her arms finally wrap around me and as her skin connects with mine, my breathing hitches. "What are we doing?"
I don't let her go. "I'm pretty sure they call this kissing." I blink a few times while I attempt to get my thoughts together again. She's caused them to scatter like loose pages in the wind with that kiss.
"Smart-arse," she murmurs, not letting me go either.
"I thought we could practise it some more today."
"And I thought you were giving me some space today."
"You don't really want space, Juliette."
Something I say causes her to stiffen in my embrace before she lets me go and tries to move out of my arms. When I don't loosen my hold, she frowns at me. "I want some space as much as you want some fun." I sense beast mode returning, but I'm clueless as to why.
Now it's my turn to frown. I'm not sure what she means by that, but before I can ask, a child's voice shrieks from behind me, "Aunt Juliette!"
I let her go and turn just in time to move out of the way of a little girl rushing towards Juliette.
The child, who would be no more than four, throws herself at Juliette, whose face has broken out in the kind of smile I want to cause her one day. She hugs her close and says, "Hey, darling, this is the best surprise of my day." I'm struck by the tenderness in her voice; she clearly cherishes this child.
The girl looks up at her aunt. "The day has just started, silly. You might still get better surprises."
Juliette shakes her head while smiling still. "No, Danielle, nothing can beat this one. And besides, this is the best surprise of my whole week."
A woman who I am guessing is Juliette's sister due to the long brunette hair, creamy complexion, and similar facial features, walks up the stairs and stops next to me. Grinning, she pulls her sunglasses off and whistles. "Geez, Juliette wasn't kidding when she said you were hot."
It's my turn to grin now. "You must be Lesley." I like her already. And I want to keep her talking to see if she reveals more of Juliette's secrets. I need all the help I can get at the moment.
She nods. "Bingo." Her gaze drops to my arms for a moment. "Damn, that's some ink you've got. Do you have any skin left clean at all?"
"Not much. I have an unhealthy addiction." Both my arms are completely covered in tattoos, but I do have some skin left to ink on the rest of my body, though not a lot.
I take in the blush that has crept across Juliette's cheeks and the way she's staring at her sister. It's not often I date women who are as sensitive about things like this as she is, and I love that about her. She's such a complex woman—one moment she's breaking your balls with a lash of her tongue, and the next she's mortified for you to know she finds you attractive.
"I didn't know you were coming over," she finally says to Lesley, unleashing a degree of beast mode on her.
Lesley's brows rise. "Last I knew I didn't require an invitation to visit. Plus, I felt like you needed me today."
Juliette's chest rises and falls as she takes a deep breath. No words escape her lips, though, and she seems grateful when Danielle says, "I need to go to the toilet."
Juliette takes her hand. "I'll take you," she declares and drags her inside without a second glance at her sister or me.