Page 31 of Burn With Me

“Okay,” I say, looking back at Penny. “Penny place.”

She pauses and looks at me likeAre you serious right now?But she goes back to her bed and lies down with a huff.

A few minutes later, Luke walks in with all the stuff I bought, and I show him to the guest bathroom.

Together we work to get a little cat palace set up for the night, or longer if she’s sick and until she has her flea treatment started.

Once we finish up, I let the kitten out and close the door. We walk to the living room, where Penny is still pouting.

“Oh, you baby. Okay, break,” I say.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a dog as well trained as she is,” he says, watching her lie outside the bathroom door.

“Like I said, she mostly came to me that way. I just really worked with her to keep her skills up. She is perfect, though,” I say with a smile. I turn to him. “Umm, do you want to stay and watch a movie or something?”

I wait for him to say something, and when he just looks at me, I start to get nervous.

He groans. “Sweetness, I would love to stay and watch a movie, but not tonight. Tonight, you’re going to walk me to the door, and I’m going to kiss you and tell you I had a great night and that we should do it again soon. I like you, but I don’t want to rush this.”

“Oh, okay,” I say kind of breathlessly because that’s not at all what I was expecting him to say.

It’s like he knows how nervous I am about how to move forward.

Grabbing my hand, he walks me to the front door and opens it.

“Thanks again for a great night. It’s really been perfect,” I say, stepping onto the porch.

He rubs his thumb over my wrist, and my stomach dips like I’m on a roller coaster.

“The pleasure is all mine, sweetness. I just hope we can do it again,” he says as he steps into my personal space, and my breathing picks up.

He grabs me by the nape of my neck and pulls me toward him, bringing his mouth to mine. I freeze the moment our lips touch, second-guessing if this is a quick kiss. I decide to relax, and I grab his shirt to pull him closer.

The moment I do, he pushes me up against the side of my house, and I gasp. Taking full advantage, he pushes his tongue into my mouth. I moan and spear my fingers through his hair. He groans into my mouth.

I forgot how much I love kissing. The feeling of getting lost in another person.

Goose bumps erupt over my skin when his tongue glides against mine, and I lose myself in the taste of him. I can feel him hardening against me, and I groan as I roll my hips against him when he puts his leg between mine.

“God, fuck, you taste so sweet. You’re tempting me not to be such a gentleman,” he says against my lips.

I keep rolling my hips against his leg, knowing that if we don’t stop, I’ll come all over his leg.

I moan, “Do you have to be a gentleman?” And then I pull his mouth back to mine.

He presses his fingers into my hips, and I can’t tell if he’s trying to pull me closer or push me away.

I’m so lost in the moment that I don’t care that I’m about to get off on his leg right here on my front porch where anyone could see. Before that can happen, he pulls away with a groan and removes my hands from him, taking a step back.

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but yes. We’re not doing this out here for your neighbors to hear,” he says, and a blush creeps up my face because damn, that’s exactly what was about to happen.

“No, don’t be embarrassed. The first time we’re together won’t be outside on your porch.” He cups my face. “I was serious. I like you and want to see where this can go. This isn’t a one-time hookup for me. Do you get what I’m saying?” His eyes are boring into mine with a look I can’t quite decipher.

“Yeah, I got you,” I say.

“Okay, now you’re going to walk into your house and lock the door. I’m going to get in the truck and drive home and text you when I get there. Then we’ll plan our next date. Sound good?” he says as he brushes a stray piece of hair out of my face.

“Sounds like a plan,” I say, torn between wanting to say fuck it and drag him back inside and appreciating that he isn’t rushing me.

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