Page 18 of Penalty for Boarding

“Shit!” Olivia yelps, her eyes going wide with panic. I quickly pull her back into my arms, the both of us scrambling to right ourselves while I shield her tight against my chest and scan the area.If anyone sees us like this...

But the parking lot remains empty, the stillness undisturbed, even with the fading echo of the horn. “We’re OK.”

Olivia immediately relaxes in my arms. “Oh my god,” she giggles, burying her face in my neck. “That scared the crap out of me.”

I can't help but chuckle too, the adrenaline and endorphins making me feel almost light-headed. “Good thing no one was around to come investigate. Can you imagine trying to explain why we're sitting in the car like this? ‘Oh, officer, we weren’t having sex in public. She had a cramp that only I could reach…Yes, itwasinternal! Pilates is hard work!’” My voice is teasing, and I can feel her shaking against me with laughter.

“Oh god! Can you imagine? I can't believe we just did that.”

I grin, gently guiding her from her hiding place in my neck so I can see her beautiful face. “I can. And I'd do it again in a heartbeat.”

She smiles at that, her eyes softening as she reaches up to card her fingers through my hair. I lean into her touch,marveling at how right this feels, how perfectly she fits in my arms.

“Fuck, I love you,” I murmur, the words slipping out before I can stop them. But I quickly realize I don't want to stop them. I want her to know, to understand the depth of what I feel for her.

Olivia's eyes widen, her hand stilling in my hair. “You... you love me?”

I nod, holding her gaze steadily. “Yeah, Olivia. I do. I know it might seem fast, but I've never been more sure of anything in my life.”

She bites her lip, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her face. “Calvin, I... Do you think it's too soon? I mean, we've only just started this and...”

I silence her with a soft kiss, pouring all my love and reassurance into the gentle press of my lips against hers. “No, baby. It's not too soon. When you know, you know. And I know.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I've been married before, thought I was in love. But it was nothing like this. Nothing like what I feel for you. You've turned my world upside down in the best possible way, Olivia. And I don't ever want to go back to a life without you in it.”

Olivia's eyes brim with water, a beautiful smile dancing across her face. “I love you too, Calvin. So much.”

My heart feels like it might burst as I pull her in for another kiss, this one soft and sweet and full of promise. When we finally part, I rest my forehead against hers, just breathing her in.

“Let's get you home and showered,” I murmur. “And then I plan on showing you just how much I love you, over and over again.”

Olivia shivers in my arms, her eyes darkening with renewed desire. “I like the sound of that.”

OLIVIA

My cheeks hurt from smiling so much as Calvin drives us back to his place, his hand resting possessively on my thigh the entire way. I feel like I'm floating, buoyed by the euphoria of our lovemaking and his heartfelt confession. He loves me. Calvin Barrett, the man I've been falling for since the moment we met, is in love with me.

It's almost too good to be true, but the steadiness in his gaze and the surety in his voice leave no room for doubt. This is real. We're real.

As he parks in front of his building, he turns to me, his eyes soft and warm. “Ready to head up?”

I nod, biting my lip as anticipation courses through me. “Is that shower about to be a dirty one?”

He grins, his eyes darkening. “You know it is.”

“In that case, I’m more than ready.”

We make our way inside, our hands brushing and tangling, unwilling to stop touching even for a moment. The elevator ride to his floor is charged, but the moment we’re in his apartment, Calvin has me pressed against the door, his mouth hot and hungry on mine. I moan into the kiss, my hands fisting in his shirt to pull him closer.

“I love you,” he murmurs against my lips. “I love you so fucking much, Olivia.”

“I love you too,” I whisper back, my heart so full with need it feels like it might burst. “Now show me how much.”

With a growl, Calvin scoops me into his arms and carries me toward the bathroom. He sets me on my feet next to the vanity, his hands skimming reverently over my curves.

“Let's get you out of these sweaty workout clothes and into the shower,” he says, his voice low and rough with want.

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