Page 50 of Stone Promises

I wind my hands around her neck and pull her to me, our lips inches apart—so close the air between us warms with our quickening breaths. “I’ve waited my whole life for this,” I say, just before my lips come crashing down on hers. Her lips are soft and supple and I work them gently with mine, tasting and memorizing them before I pry them apart with my tongue. When her tongue mingles with mine, doing a perfectly choreographed dance, it’s like a well-rehearsed scene coming together as if we’d practiced it a dozen times, except that it’s our first time.

A sultry noise escapes her throat, fueling my need for her as we devour each other. I press her back against the door, trapping her with my body as I lean into her, showing her just how much this kiss is affecting me. Her hands come up and work through my hair as mine find her arms, her shoulders, her ribs, moving from one body part to the next, studying each with nimble fingers.

When we are starving for air, my mouth escapes hers only to find its way to her neck, savoring every inch of skin between her exposed collarbone and her ear. She tastes like heaven. When I suck on a spot on her neck, a muffled cry escapes her. I smile against her skin as I record the exact location of the area for future reference.

My mouth finds hers again and our tongues resume roaming, tasting and licking like this is the first kiss either of our lips have been allowed to have. Ever. My hands travel under her coat, around her back and down to the perfectly-rounded globes of her ass. I pull her against me, grinding myself into her. Her hands grab my shoulders and she supports herself on me as if her knees have become too weak to hold her.

The headlights of a passing car remind me we’re still standing on Mallory’s front porch. I give her one last kiss, reluctantly pulling my lips from hers. I look into her eyes that are drunk with passion if not alcohol. “Jesus, Mal, that was so much better,” I say.

Her fingers come up to wipe her swollen lips. “Better than what?” she asks, breathily.

I cup her chin with my hand. “Anything I ever imagined.”

She smiles brightly, her eyes dancing in agreement.

“I’m warning you right now, I’m going to fall in love with you, Mallory Kate. And I’m going to fall hard.” I press her languid body back against the door so she won’t fall down when I release her. “I may already have.”

I walk down the steps and head out to the waiting car. I turn around and shout, “See you in two weeks!” Then I watch her fall through her door and into the house.

Chapter Sixteen

Mallory

I didn’t know how hard it was going to be. I didn’t realize how he’d become such an integral part of my life in the short time he was here. But being without him these last two weeks—it’s like being without air.

Our daily texts and phone calls have kept us going, and the occasional reminders he’s sent to me from afar have been my beacons of light. Part of me loves that he has all this money yet he chooses to send me a simple bouquet of roses. Or the greeting cards he took the time to handwrite and mail. Or the pizza and champagne he had delivered from The Pizza Garden.

I can barely contain my excitement knowing I’m going to see him in just a few minutes. He texted me when his plane landed, saying he’d be here shortly.

Although the past two weeks have been hard without him; they’ve been anything but lonely. Between shopping with Charlie, a girls’ night with her and the Mitchell sisters, and endless cross-examination during dinners with Julian and Mel, I’ve had little time to myself. I even went to dinner at Ethan’s and got to catch up with him and Kyle a bit more. My life has become so much richer since Chad came back into it, and it has nothing to do with the enormous bank accounts of all my new friends.

On the flip side, news has gotten out that the hot star of the upcoming release,Defcon One, has a new lady. A mysterious woman who appeared in the crowd, who accompanied him to dinner, and who was seen walking with him one night in the park.

Fortunately, all pictures of me are obscured. Someone snapped a photo of me through the glass doors of Ethan’s building. Another person used cellphone video to tape us at the pizza place—just as he warned would probably happen. Thank goodness it was dark there. Stories of the mystery woman with long brown hair have been plastered over the tabloids, with headlines screaming of how Thad Stone has stepped out on his leading lady. There have even been rumors of him and Heather Crawford rekindling their relationship. Courtney has denied every allegation and continues to drape herself over Chad anytime a photographer is around.

It’s been difficult, me being here and seeing his face with Courtney’s all over the media. He’s been good about calling me to prepare me every time they get photographed by the paparazzi—or ‘papped’ as he calls it. And I’ve been doing my best to avoid entertainment news and grocery store newsstands because I know it’s inevitable, them ending up on the cover. After all, their movie release is coming up soon and they were together in Vancouver for an entire week.

I’m glad my dad is still working. I’d hate for him to see what a wreck I am waiting for Chad to show up. I changed three times. I shaved every place that needed shaving. I plucked. I moisturized. I’ve paced around the house for an hour. I wonder if this is how his fans feel when they get to meet him.

I hear a car door shut in the driveway and my heart surges, beating a thousand times in quick succession. Then I hear the thump-thump-thump of the basketball, and suddenly, I’m not scared anymore. A few minutes ago I was wondering what it would be like to see him again. After that incredible date. After he said the things he did at my door. After our time apart. But now, I realize there’s nothing to be scared of. He’s just Chad, and I’m just Mallory. Like it used to be. Like it always should have been.

I rip open the door to get to him. I have to refrain from running down the porch steps and jumping into his arms. Because that is exactly what I want to do. And by the look on his face when he sees me, I’m positive he wouldn’t mind in the least if I did. Instead, however, he throws me the ball as I step onto the driveway.

No kiss. No hug. Not even a word of hello. “HORSE?” he asks, with a sinful smile.

“What are the stakes?” I answer, nonchalantly as if my insides aren’t imagining all the possibilities.

“I win, you pack an overnight bag,” he says.

A warm shiver runs down my spine, all the way to my toes. “What ifIwin,” I ask, trying not to let my voice crack with sheer desperation.

“Well, you can have whatever you want,” he says.

What if I already have it?

When I don’t speak, he says, “You don’t have to tell me now. It can be like a secret wish you can save for later.” He winks.

“I’ll go first,” I say, not pulling my eyes from him as I take a shot and miss.

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