“It’s perfect, though. Like the epicenter of the house.”
My chest tightened with an unexpected surge of pride and accomplishment. The fact that she understood made me feel validated in a way I hadn’t even known I’d needed. I turned quickly, grabbing her hips and slamming her surprised and open lips to mine.
“Thank you,” I said. “That’s exactly what I was going for.”
I almost couldn’t handle the feeling of her answering smile.
“Watch your step,” I advised as we stepped into one of the completely unrenovated bedrooms. The original wainscoting was the only thing I really wanted to keep, and it was acting more like a temporary storage room for supplies than a bedroom at the moment.
“This place is amazing,” Georgie remarked in wonder. “It’s almost like a time capsule.”
“I know. It’s nearly a hundred years old. Which was really fucking intimidating when I first started doing the work.”
“I bet.”
“Come on. Let me show you upstairs real quick and then we can watch a movie. I’m ready to cuddle.”
“Kline Brooks, a cuddler?”
“Born, bred, and proud of it, baby.”
She pursed her lips, scrunched her nose, and shook her head—Georgia’s look of trying to figure something out.
“You almost never say what I’m expecting you to, you know that?”
I shrugged and nuzzled my face into her neck before touching my lips to the shell of her ear.
“Fine by me. As long as what I actually say is better.”
She shivered and then touched her lips to my cheek. Sauntering toward the door, she looked over her shoulder as soon as her small body lined up with the frame. “You haven’t failed me yet.”
I slowly opened my eyes as Kline lifted me off the couch, cradling me close to his chest. I must’ve fallen asleep halfway through the movie. Only two glasses of wine deep, I hadn’t been drunk, just a delicious mix of relaxed and sleepy—sated from resting by the fire and cozy from being wrapped up in his arms.
His eyes met mine as we moved down the hall, toward the bedroom. “I figured you’d want to be somewhere a little more comfortable than the couch.” He gently set me on the mattress, pulling the covers back and tucking me in. After a soft kiss to my forehead, he whispered, “Go back to sleep, baby.”
I watched him move around the bedroom—charging his phone, sliding off his jeans, shrugging out of his shirt, and turning off the lights. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to how amazing Kline looked in just his boxer briefs. It should have been an offense to let a man who looked like that walk around without clothes. But I wasn’t complaining.
If he is a crime, then by God, get the handcuffs ready, because there is no way I can resist him.
He slid into the bed beside me, oblivious to my awakened state and ogling thoughts.
Tonight had been so perfect. He was perfect—sexy, kind, funny, and so very sweet. He made me want things I’d spent a lot of time wondering if I’d ever have.
Under the covers, I slid toward him, moving my body on top of his.
His eyes popped open.
“Hi,” I whispered.
“Hi.” He smiled softly, wrapping his arms around my back and holding me close.
“I didn’t really feel like sleeping.” I brushed my nose against his.
“And what is it you feel like doing?”
I shrugged my shoulders as my lips nibbled along his neck. Kissing a path back to his mouth, I bit his bottom lip and then licked across the plump skin to soothe it better.
He groaned, gripping my hips and flipping me to my back. His mouth locked with mine as he kissed me, long and slow and deep—so deliciously deep. I gripped the strands of hair resting at the nape of his neck. I swallowed his breaths and savored the taste of him.
My body was getting more riled, almost restless, with each heady second that passed.
He pushed my tank top up and over my chest, grabbing my breasts. He sucked a hardened nipple into his mouth, teasing the peak with his tongue, until switching to the other and repeating the same delectable torture.
The pulsing ache between my legs was proof of how badly I wanted Kline.
And God, I wanted to feel him, all of him.
His mouth found mine again. “Tell me what you want.” Our tongues danced. “I’ll give you anything.”
“I want you inside of me,” I moaned against his lips. “I want it so badly.” The need burned in a way it never had before—in a way I knew couldn’t be otherwise extinguished.
His eyes met mine, searching. “You know I’ll wait, right? I’ll wait until you know you’re really ready. There’s no rush.”
A tiny, self-doubting voice crept in. “You don’t want to have sex with me?”
“Are you kidding?” A soft laugh escaped his lips. “Baby, I’m losing my mind over the idea of feeling you come on my cock. I’d say that’s quite obvious.” He playfully rubbed the proof against my thigh, spurring a giggle from my lips.