Page 19 of Tell Me You Need Me

He’s in a pair of slacks and a buttoned-up shirt. The sleeves are always rolled up, displaying the tattoos on his forearms. How far up do they go?

“Hey.” I smile, speaking first. I don’t want this to be awkward. West glances around before stepping inside and closing the door behind him. When the door clicks closed, it’s as if the air around us changes.

“Hey,” he says back. His eyes roam me up and down, and I regret not having gone back to the guesthouse to change out of my uniform. He doesn’t make a move to come closer to me. The pantry is a pretty good-sized room. “About this morning.”

“Maybe don’t say anything,” I blurt out, scared that he might tell me this isn’t going to work.

“Teddy.” He softens his voice and moves to stand directly in front of me. He lifts his hand to my face, almost cupping my cheek. It feels so close and far away at the same time.

“Touch me,” I whisper, swallowing hard. I leave it in his hand. He has to make a choice. When his hand presses against my cheek, my eyes fall closed, and I lean into him. Then I feel his lips on mine, surprising me.

A surge of ardor filled me along with a desire deeper than I have ever known. I firmly grasp his shirt and return the kiss, I think shocking both myself and West equally. Our mouths part, and our tongues meet in a fierce, electrifying kiss. We both melt into each other.

It isn’t awkward, nor do I feel like I don’t know what I am doing. No, it feels exactly right. As though I was meant to kiss this man. West's arms tightly encircle me, drawing me into his embrace. His mouth moves hungrily over mine. My hands roam up his chest to his shoulder, wanting to touch all of him before I wrap them around his neck.

West lifts me into his arms, and I wrap my legs around him. He tastes like he is mine, with a hearty mix of desire that makes my heart race with excitement. Everything else fades away—the worries of why, if, or of it being wrong vanish. It is only us. All that matters in this moment is the two of us.

When West finally lifts his head and mouth from mine, we both are breathing heavily, trying to catch our breath. Neither of us speaks, only staring into each other's eyes.

There’s no way in hell I’m giving this up.

Chapter Thirteen

WEST

Holy fuck. I have never experienced anything that intense before in my life. I stare down into Teddy’s eyes, knowing I’ll never be able to stay away from her. I debated giving her time and letting her graduate. I realize now that I was only fooling myself. There is no way I can stay away from her. I only have those fleeting thoughts when she isn’t near me. The second I am in her presence, everything goes out the fucking window.

“Okay.” Teddy swipes her tongue across her bottom lip. “You can talk now.”

“I missed you today,” I admit. Her whole face lights up with a bright smile.

“I missed you, too.” I want to ask why she didn’t come straight home then. No, she went to the diner for the longest thirty minutes of my life, but I can’t ask that. I don’t think I’d keep getting this smile, and I’m not willing to do anything to lose it. To lose her.

“What am I going to do with you, Teddy?” My fingers flex on her ass; she lets out a small gasp. When I lifted her into my arms, I hadn’t been thinking about how she was in a skirt. It had bunched up, my hand going under it so there was only herpanties between her ass and my hands. My fingers itch to trail along the edge of her panties, but I know I need to take this slowly with her.

“I kind of like the kissing. You could do that.” I press my lips against hers once more.

I knew growing up that a lot of kids went up to the lighthouse to park and make out. It always sounded strange to me. To sit and kiss for hours. Now I get it. I could kiss this girl forever and never grow bored. Her lips are as pillowy soft as the rest of her.

We both still when we hear a door open and then close. I’d felt my phone vibrate in my pocket, letting me know someone had come through the gate. Whoever it was just came in the side door. It has to be Rich.

“It’s Rich,” I half-whisper to her. I don't want to hide her, but I also don't want a repeat of what happened this morning.

“Here.” She wiggles, letting me know she wants down. I don’t want to, but I reluctantly put her down onto her feet. Her eyes widen when my hard cock presses into her. “It’s not morning,” Teddy whispers. I have to bite back a laugh. “You’re smirking.”

Her eyes widen with so much happiness shining through. This girl is full of so much life. It spills over into everything around her, including me. She’s made me feel happy in a home that used to star in my nightmares. That’s how much of an effect she has.

“No, it’s not morning,” I agree. Teddy runs her hand up my chest.

“I need to change, and well—” She glances away from me, and I hate it. I want to know what she’s thinking. The hitch of the small stall she steals to find her words. “Maybe we should keep this secret.”

“Okay,” I get out. It might be for the best right now, but I don’t like it.

Teddy cuts off when her phone starts ringing. “Shit, that’s my mom’s ring.” I step back so she can grab her phone that is sitting on one of the shelves. “Hey,” she says when she answers it. “Oh, I’m, ah”—her eyes flick to me—“checking the stock in the pantry. I need to place an order.”

I take a step back, not wanting to crowd her, and I'm not sure what to think about her wanting to keep this all secret. It would be for the best, but I don’t like it. I want people to know she's taken. That includes Rich, but maybe she is trying to protect him or fuck, I don’t know. I really don’t want to go there in my head because it pisses me off.

“I’ll let you get back to it,” I tell her when she finishes her call.

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