Page 65 of Make It Without You

“It was a bonfire after a football game.”

“Did you do a group date?” I ask baffled.

Adam’s laugh comes from deep in his chest. “She was not happy. Safe to say I didn't get a second date.”

“I can’t imagine why,” I say dryly.

I see the smile lift his cheeks. The drive to my apartment is quiet. As the scene outside of the truck turns from trees to city, I still can’t help but wish that this date never ends.

Adam pulls up to the curb and looks over at me once we’re in ‘park’. “Do I get a second date with you?”

“It won’t be a bonfire with a group of people will it?” I ask him as I unclick my seatbelt and lean onto the center console.

He mimics my position by leaning on the center console, leaving a few inches between us. “Please. Like I’d share you with anyone else.”

“Then, yes. You get a second date with me.”

Adam’s face moves closer by millimeters. My eyes move over his face, but my gaze focuses on his lips more than they probably should. His hand tangles in my hair and ghosts his lips over mine.

“You are so beautiful it takes my breath away,” he says before pressing his lips to mine.

What starts soft and sweet amps up to hot. His tongue traces the seam of my lips before I open and our tongues tangle. The moan I let out spurs him on and the whimper I let out when he bites on my bottom lip makes me regret taking us slow. My hand slides up to his hair and I pull the tie out, freeing the strands, and fisting his hair in my hand.

Our tongues dance as I try to get closer to him. I’m halfway across the center console when Adam slows down the kiss.

“Slow, Emily.” He tells me as he peppers kisses up and down my neck. My breath hitches and my eyes roll as Adam latches onto the spot between my neck and shoulder.

“I don’t wantslowwhen you do that.” How I manage to string a short sentence together is beyond me. My nipples are so hard they could cut glass and my underwear is completely ruined.

I feel his smile against my skin and then he lets up. Adam trails soft kisses up my neck before he kisses me again. Long and slow until I’m completely breathless.

“It’s only fair I tease you the way you tease me,” Adam shoots out before he’s out of the truck and rounds to the passenger side.

The time he’s out of the truck barely gives me enough time to get my bearings. When the door opens, Adam holds his hand out. I grab my purse and place my hand in his.

“Thank you for a fun date,” I tell him when I’m on solid ground. I like that I can still look up at him with heels on.

“Thank you for wearing those shoes,” he groans out and backs me into the side of his truck. I feel his hard cock through his jeans and I want nothing more than to feel him pounding in me. “You are trouble.” Adam kisses me one more time and then directs me to the stairs. “Goodnight, Emily,” he says with a swat on my butt.

“Goodnight, Adam.”

I hear his exhale as I walk away. When I turn to the stairs, Adam is still standing by his truck, and as I ascend the stairs his truck starting up breaks through the sound of my breathing and the click of my heels.

When I’m in my apartment, I fall on my bed and look at the ceiling. The smile I try so desperately to wipe off my face no matter how hard I try, never leaves. And I have to thank Adam for returning the happiness I never thought I’d see again to me.

Adam

“Hey, Tammy, did you get the menu finalized?” I ask when I come up from my office.

Once a month we hold a speed-dating event for the singles and newly singles in the city. Everyone is also carefully vetted before a formal email is sent out to willing participants. Dating in the city is hard, so if my restaurant can be the catalyst for a relationship starting, then I’m not one to turn people away.

I may be a little clouded with hearts in my eyes because this is where Emily and I met. Love can make people do the craziest things.

My steps stop. Nope! Can’t be love. We haven’t even had our second date yet.

But she’s also all I think about.

It’s been tricky with her teaching and being Dylan’s teacher. I won’t come between her job. I just have to wait a few more weeks.

---