Page 88 of The Thought of You

“It sounds like I’m your dirty little experiment after all.” His powerful shoulders sag.

I shake my head and lean forward, keeping the covers in place as I interlock my fingers around my legs. “It’s not like that—believe me.”

“Then what is it?” He sits on the edge of the desk and crosses both arms over his chest. He’s only a few feet away, but right now, as he studies me with defeat clouding his eyes, he feels eons away.

“It’s us exploring whatever this is.” I point between us. “Owen, before I toss an explosive into the center of my life, I’d like to see if we could even turn into anything serious. I don’t know if we even like each other that much. Do you? I mean, you could find you hate how much I ramble. You could find you’re too turned off by my labeled pantry, or the excessive collection of soap in my bathroom. What if it turns out that you don’t hold a candle to my obsession with Skittles?”

“I get your point.”

“We need a test drive.”

“I’m not a car.”

I tilt my head.

He pushes off the desk, paces in a single circle, and sighs. “You’re right, not about being turned off by anything you do, but the sentiment is compelling.”

My exhale purges my muscles of tension, and a small smile spreads. “So, you agree to keep this a secret for now?”

He spreads his arms. “Take me for a spin, baby. I promise, I’m a smooth ride.”

My grin is full-fledged as I throw the covers off and meet him at the edge of the bed, where we collide in a mix of heated kisses.

His hands roam over my bare body, squeezing and kneading and caressing like he’s paying tribute to it.

Skin sizzling, I fall back and bring him down with me, but again, he flies upright with a drawn-out groan. “I have to…” He touches his lips, and I bite the inside of my cheek. “I don’t know. I have to go… somewhere. Someone… needs me.” His sharp inhale echoes across the room.

“Right.” I trace my lip with my fingertip as I complete my hundredth perusal of him since yesterday.

“What, um…” He scratches the back of his head. “When is your spa appointment?”

“My what?” I hum.

“Aren’t you going to the spa?”

I jump from the bed. “Oh! Oh my gosh. It’s at ten thirty.”

“Do you know where you’re going?” He smirks.

I stick my tongue out at him and toss back, “Somewhere with someone.”

“How mature.”

“Oh, Lord. Less than a day with you, and I’m already stooping to your level.”

He takes measured steps until he reaches me, and placing his thumb under my chin, he tips my head back to peer into my eyes. “It’s much more fun down here.”

With that, he sears a kiss to my lips, then backs away. His hand curls around the doorknob to leave, and I reach out to stop him.

“For the record…” I start. As many books and homework assignments as I’ve read, and as much as I normally talk, I’m struggling with words at the moment. “I don’t hate your hair. I actually like it.”

“I know.” Sparks of amusement bounce in his clear eyes. “It was obvious how much you like it by how hard you pulled on it last night.”

My next breath catches in my throat.

“See you soon—in secret—Lockhart.” With a parting wink, he slips through the door, and I’m left with only my racing thoughts once again.

My mouth still tingles long after the door clicks shut. I tingle all over from him, and I don’t know how I’ll survive keeping my emotions in check when it doesn’t feel like he and I are new.

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