Page 40 of Perfect Pursuit

A frown pulls her brows down. “Since it was all of an hour . . .” Her words stop mid-sentence.

“Not that one.”

“The first one?” At my nod, comprehension lights her features. A smug look replaces the temporary awe. “It wasn’t just me.”

My lashes lower as I take in the wicked combination of beauty and frustration vibrating off her skin. “No, it wasn’t just you, Fallon.”

She rolls her eyes, making me want to light up her ass for her impertinence. “Then why wait? We could have . . .” Her lips press together, squashing her words inside.

But I know her thoughts without her finishing her sentence. After all, the hunger living inside her, the lust dying to break free, I’ve been on the other end of it for just as long as she has. I take a step forward and proclaim, “Our time is now.”

Her choppy breath threatens to cause her breasts to spill out of her halter top—not that I’d mind since her dress is going to end up on the floor in a few moments anyway. Still, I want to seduce her—our first time anyway. We’re both so worked up after years of texts that I know I could simply take her hand and lead her into the bedroom, but Fallon deserves more. Frankly, so do I.

Instead, I step back and ask, “Are you certain you want this? Me? Us?”

A slow smile graces her lips as she glides toward me with confidence. When she stops directly in front of me, she presses her hands against my chest.

My arms bind around her waist to haul her to me.

Rising on the balls of her feet, she brushes her lips against mine—her eyes holding mine the whole time. I taste the sweet cru she drank earlier mixed in with all that’s Fallon. My blood beats fast in my veins as she lowers herself down before asking, “Does that answer your question?”

“Not even close to enough.” I haul her back against me and slant my mouth over hers.

Lips parting, I’m not certain who moaned. I am certain I don’t give the first fuck. My tongue demands her response—licking, tasting, sucking.

As Fallon’s head falls back, exposing the line of her throat, I wrench my mouth away and trail my lips down the long, graceful column. My breath wafting over her skin causes her body to shudder in my arms.

And this is only the beginning.

She reaches down for a hand that is clutching one of her ass cheeks and tries to lift it to the globe of her breast. I let her, knowing it’s what we both want. But even as my hand cups her fullness, she snarls her frustration. “It’s not enough.”

“Then tell me how to get you out of this fucking dress.”

Fallon steps back and lifts her arm to unzip a hidden zipper. Once that’s done, she reaches around the back of her neck. As soon as the knot is freed, the entire column of blue slithers to the floor, leaving her in nothing but a barely there scrap of lace and the silver heels she wore to her graduation ceremony.

I want to lunge, but instead, I savor the work of art in front of me, circling around her. My fingers trail over her marvelous ass, the curve of her hip, and tweak her nipples until I’m back in front of her.

When I meet her burning eyes, I know my life is forever changed. If you’re lucky, there’s an instant where a single look in your lover’s eyes communicates everything else before you is forgotten. This is that moment with Fallon right now.

No regrets. No recriminations.

Just us.

I clasp her waist, feeling the thunder of her heart against my chest. Her indigo eyes blink languidly at me. “Ethan?”

As my lips descend to the curve of her shoulder, I cup her breast and rasp my thumb across her nipple.

“Oh god.”

“I’m not a god, witch. Just a man.”

Her hands lift and she flicks the buttons of my shirt open as her hands move on a downward glide. “My man.”

“Be very sure before you say things like that, Fal.”

“I’ve been certain for a long time. I was being gentle, easing you in, Ethan.”

Uproarious laughter bursts from me. I nuzzle her temple, appreciating her candor and tenacity.

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