Page 174 of The Keeper

He lifted me without warning, turned and pinned me to the wall. Ivy leaves tickled and caressed my neck and shoulders. The night air soothed my bare skin as soon as I wrapped my legs around his waist.

He’s not there yet.

He’s still holding back.

I cupped one hand behind his neck and idly scrolled lazy circles on his chest with the other.

“I’m glad you’re here,” I told him. “I’m glad I can congratulate you in person for today’s big win.”

“Yeah?”

I nodded. My eyes dropped to his mouth. His pouty, sultry, promises and sins mouth. I wanted the sins tonight.

His grip on my thighs tightened. My arousal sped up when he dragged his tongue over his lip in the slow, deliberate way that drives me crazy.

“Why are you holding back?” I asked. “Why won’t you kiss me?”

“Honest answer?”

“I won’t accept any other.”

The muscles in his neck worked overtime when he swallowed. When his eyes met mine he said, “I don’t want to fuck this up again.”

I stretched my arms so each one draped over his shoulders and my hands dangled lazily. “Well, if we’re keeping score, I think the technical term is…equalizer? I had my fuck up and now you have yours, so we’re tied.”

“Level,” he corrected with a smile.

“Fine. Level,” I repeated. “The next one who fucks up wins.”

“Wins what?” He furrowed his brows. “A lifetime of regret?”

“Wow. Dude. I’m gonna need you to not be such a downer.”

A little crooked grin appeared. “I don’t want to disappoint you or see you as upset as you were just before.”

“Hate to break it you, Maddox. That’s how relationships work. We’re human. We’re going to fuck up and disappoint and be upset. But we’re also going to get it right and satisfy and be so happy it’ll outweigh the down times.”

“Yeah,” he sighed. “Been awhile since I’ve done the whole relationship thing.”

I bit down on my lip to stifle a laugh. He tilted his head in this adorably confused way, staring at me like I had the audacity to call him out on something.

“Are you having a laugh over my attempt at being an actual gentleman and trying to be sensitive about your feelings?”

“Maybe.” I pressed a finger to his mouth before he could get all huffy about that silly word. “I just find it a little amusing that the great Xavier Maddox, whose hands don’t miss and who wins all sorts of fancy medals, is just as mortal and fallible as the rest of us when it comes to relationships.”

“Hmm.” He teased his fingers along my thighs, leaning his muscular frame into me. “Do you still want me to kiss you?”

“Yes.”

“Is that all you want?”

My pulse raced hearing the tone of voice I loved. His whole demeanor shifted from unsure to in control.

“No.”

He hovered his mouth over mine and asked, “What else do you want?”

“I want you to apologize.”

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