Page 17 of Forgot to Tell You Something

I hold open the door, waving him inside. “Come in. Make yourself comfortable. I hope you didn’t have any trouble finding the apartment.”

“A little, but I finally figured out how to open the gate. I thought I might have to jump the damn thing.”

“My landlord, she worries about vagrants. The area has changed over the years.” I’m babbling about my landlord. God help me, I’ll never survive the evening.

Hecate approaches Owen, arching her back as he strokes her sleek, black fur. “Who’s this?”

“That’s Hecate.”

“Guardian of the Crossroads. She looks fierce enough.”

I laugh, tossing a toy in her direction. “Yeah, right, fierce if you’re a catnip cigar. I’m surprised she’s letting you pet her. She doesn’t warm to most people.”

“Maybe she knows I’m not most people.” Owen holds out the bouquet. “I know it’s not much, but I got you these. I tried to find the most vibrant colors, to match the most vibrant woman.” His gaze returns to my cat, but I swear he flushes under his tan.

“They’re beautiful. I never get flowers.”

“We’ll have to change that.” Now his eyes meet mine, and I’m so screwed. The things this man does to my body with only a simple glance.

I snap my fingers in a vain attempt to regain my emotional balance. “I actually got you something, too.”

Owen’s eyes widen with surprise when I hand him the book. “I’ve never gotten a gift on a first date before.”

“I guess it’s time to change that,” I blurt, feeling my cheeks redden with embarrassment. God, can’t I rent a filter for just one night? “I mean, I know it’s not a date, but I thought you might like this.”

Owen pages through the book, a smile crossing his features. “This is wonderful. Thank you.”

I focus on the book, flipping through to a section, aware of his gaze on me. “It’s like a Zagat for the underground, listing all the cool spots in the area. There’s even a section on tattoo artists and the punk scene. I thought since you’re new to Florida, this might be helpful.”

I’m not sure how much longer I can flip through pages while his gaze heats my body to scalding. “Anyway, enough of that. Let me grab my bag—"

Owen grabs my wrist, pulling me against him and tipping my chin up. “I forgot to tell you something, Tally.”

Great. Here it comes—the unwelcome but expected disclosure of last night.

“What’s that?” I inquire, plastering a smile that I pray isn’t too artificial on my face.

“This is most definitely a date.” Owen takes advantage of my slightly parted lips, possessing my mouth without permission, and setting off an internal inferno.

Some kisses are pleasant. Pretty much all the kisses I’ve ever experienced land in that category. I never felt sparks or butterflies or any other variety of insect, but they were nice.

This is not one of those kisses. The moment Owen’s lips brush mine, my body lights up like Mardi gras.

I push up on tiptoe, my hands circling his neck as I surrender to the weight of his mouth crushing mine. There is nothing easygoing about the way he lays claim. No, this kiss is a firestorm, his body daring me to disobey his commands.

Owen hoists me into his arms as my legs lock around his waist. We aren’t 0-60, we’re 0-1,000. My back hits the wall as Owen cradles my head from impact, his mouth refusing to release me.

I slide my hands along the lines of his chest, desperate for the feel of his skin against mine. I’m tempted to rip the shirt from his body and judging from the way his hands knead my ass, pulling me flush against his erection, Owen is just as desperate.

With a strangled huff, Owen breaks the kiss, burrowing his face against my neck. “We have to stop, Tally.”

“Okay,” I manage, willing my heart—and hormones—to settle.

He lifts his head, those stormy eyes hooded with lust. His lips graze mine as he thrusts his hips forward, trapping my body between the wall and his broad frame. “Because if we don’t stop now, I’m going to carry you to the bedroom, and we aren’t making the concert.”

My hands slide down his pecs, across his chiseled abdomen. “I really want you to do that.”

He smiles before nipping my lower lip, earning another moan from my sexually overheated mouth. “So do I. But first, I want to show you an amazing evening, with our clothes on.”

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