Page 16 of Defining Us

Her head lurched up to find Joel at the far end of the stack. With an irritated sigh, he shoved his phone into his back pocket and mumbled to himself, “Took long enough. Now I can finally delete this dumb thing.”

She blinked rapidly, positive she’d experienced a super potent delusion. But there he stood, and his profile remained on her phone, though the planet shifted beneath her.

“I’m confused,” she whispered.

That beautiful frown of his magnified. “About what?”

“Um…” She paused, unsure how to answer such a loaded question coherently. “Everything?”

He blew out a breath, adorably peeved. “I saw the app on your phone last week. Downloaded it, hoping it would match us, but it took longer than I thought. Didn’t realize there were so many people on this stupid thing.”

A boulder lodged in her throat, making it nearly impossible to speak. Nor could she think straight, as evidenced by how she strode toward him, grabbed his shirt, and yanked his mouth down to hers like a woman possessed.

No, not like a woman possessed. Like the old Mallory.

Hello, you. Long time no see.

Oh, but how she had missed kissing. The act made her heart flutter like a flock of doves. Made her feel desirable and wanted and like she belonged. And this kiss was explosive—an awe-inspiring fireworks display that lit up every nerve within her.

He tossed the bag over to the side, grasped her slim hips, and growled like an animal setting sight on its prey. Before she knew it, her body was pressed against the shelves, his burly physique crowding her. Lush lips that tasted as sweet as powdered sugar coaxed her mouth open without protest, and the skillful stroke of his tongue riled up her insides. She rose onto her tiptoes and threw her arms over his shoulders, digging her fingertips into the firm muscles. The feel of his body wasindescribable. Lightyears beyond the fantasies that had fueled many a masturbation session.

They broke the kiss to gulp in air, and the fact that she’d mauled him with no warning plagued her. “I don’t know what came over me. I’m so?—”

Mighty hands cupped her face, tilting her head back. “Don’t you dare apologize,” he commanded. “Not now, and not with me.”

There wasn’t time to form a rebuttal, because his mouth descended and obliterated the unreasonable contrition. The lust she’d attempted to control completely unleashed, her good reason was nowhere to be found, and all that remained was the incredible sensation of his lips against her own. A tiny part of her knew this path led to disaster, but she couldn’t bring herself to care. Tonight was the time to let her old self run free, to bask in spontaneity, and to finally indulge in the ultimate fantasy. Consequences were inevitable, but she’d face them tomorrow.

Her hands burrowed under his T-shirt, trailing the ridges of his abdominal muscles. Joel hissed in pleasure, his head lolling back as her exploration continued to the downy hair across his pectorals. His chest lifted with a trembling breath, and then he ground his erection against her pelvis without a hint of shame. The act was so blatantly sexual that she whimpered hoarsely, clamping her thighs together to try and generate a bit of relief.

But it was no use. What she needed was his fingers. Those gorgeous hands.

“My skirt,” she whispered.

“Up?”

With a hasty nod, she urged, “Yeah.”

“Thank fuck.”

In a flash, he pushed the fabric up around her waist, revealing her white cotton panties. They groaned in tandem when he cupped her mound, and her head slumped against thebooks behind her as he rained kisses along the side of her neck. She widened her stance to provide easier access, marveling at how deftly he stroked the damp fabric. When he pushed the cotton to the side and trailed his index and middle fingers through her soaked folds, she cried out.

“Ah, fuck.” His free hand groped her tiny breasts, tweaking the rigid buds through her button-down blouse. “Do that again.”

“Do what?” she panted.

His fingers found her clit and rubbed in circles, drawing a ragged moan from her mouth. A satisfied smile brightened his face. “That. God,thatsound.”

And when he pushed one long finger inside her, she sobbed. Her head sagged, resting against his bicep as she struggled to pull air in and out of her lungs. The unrelenting pumps created a delicious tension, and her inner muscles fluttered when his thumb lavished attention on her clit. He added a second finger, stretching her even further, and she feared her legs would give out as she trembled at the knees. Her hands frantically grasped at his sturdy frame, desperate to hold on to anything solid.

“Don’t let me fall,” she stammered.

Even with such a lust-addled brain, she knew there was much more to that plea.

Don’t let me fall for you.

“You’re okay. I’ve got you,” he assured her.

His free hand cradled her face, moving her head to drink her in. Despite her earlier brazenness, she immediately shut her eyes, the vulnerability too much to bear.

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