Page 14 of When We Are Falling

Arms encircling her, pulling her closer. Her soaked T-shirt is yanked up and over her body, our kiss breaking as I pull it over her head. The T-shirt falls to the floor, and I drink in the sight of her in nothing but a lacy white bra and jeans.

My fingers spear through her hair, pulling her mouth back toward my greedy lips, before reaching behind her, unclasping her bra. It falls away, and her breasts are perfect, full and round.

I lean down to taste her, flicking my tongue across her nipple before capturing it, sucking and gently nipping. My mouth moves to her other breast, lips surrounding the pebbled peak, tongue working her.

She gasps, arching her back in pleasure, and I fumble with the button on her jeans when a thought intrudes:not like this. It’s Blake, for God’s sake. I don’t want a one night stand with her. And if we keep going, it’s probably only ever going to be this night.

A woman like Blake comes around once in a lifetime. And it’s not just that I don’t want a quick fuck, even though I’m so hard I could burst out of my pants. A woman like Blake deserves to have her body worshiped, every square inch of her, night after night, and I want to be the one who does it.

It physically hurts to pull my hands away from the front of her jeans and plant them on her hips. I move to her mouth, kissing her slowly, savoring the taste of her, before reaching down and picking up her T-shirt.

She looks confused as she takes it from me. “Is everything okay?”

“God, yes. It’s more than okay. But I don’t want you like this.”

“Wow, that’s great for my ego. Thanks.”

She pulls her T-shirt on, her nipples pressing against the wet fabric.

My erection throbs again. “You don’t understand. I want you. I want you more than you’ll ever know, wanted you for longer than you realize. I’d give anything to fuck you right here on the bar, it’s just…”

She’s staring at me and I’ve never felt more stupid. How do I tell her I’ve thought about this for years, that I want to lay her tenderly on my bed and make her come with my mouth, my fingers, before sinking myself into her over and over. I don’t want her once in the middle of the Tidal Tavern. I want all of her, for as long as she’ll have me. I just never thought I had a chance until now.

She bites her lip, then shakes her head. “Well, whatever it was, it was… unexpected. Guess that’s one way to clean up a beer spill.”

“No, Blake—”

“It’s okay. I get it. I’m not looking for a relationship, either.”

She runs a hand through her tousled hair, taking a small step back to put some distance between us, bending down to pick upher bra. White lace clutched in one hand, she takes another step back.

“Can we talk, please?”

She shrugs. “Nothing to talk about. This doesn’t mean anything. We were just caught up in the moment. Don’t go reading too much into it.”

Her words sting, and I can see the walls she’s putting up. Blake has always been fiercely independent, and I know for a fact she hasn’t dated anyone since Danny died. She’s so different from the women I usually date—she’s real, complex. Special.

“Look, you better get out of here. I have to get this place cleaned up.”

“Let me help you.”

“No,” she replies, her voice firm. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

We stand there for a moment longer, the weight of our kiss still hanging in the air. I’m not going to get through to her tonight, that much is clear. But that doesn’t mean I’m giving up, not by a long shot.

I’ve tasted her sweetness. I know how good this could be.

I take a step forward, leaning in to kiss her cheek even though she stiffens. My lips linger against her skin, my hand running up her arm, breathing her in for a moment. “You’re so beautiful. I’ll see you tomorrow. We’re meeting at the lighthouse.”

Turning, I head out into the night, and it’s like I’m fucking flying. I can’t believe that just happened.

Blake might not want a relationship, but that doesn’t mean I can’t change her mind. She’s worth the fight, and I’m more than ready to step up and win her over.

Holy shit. I just kissed Blake Summerton!

Chapter 7

Blake

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