Page 63 of Set on You

I try to peel his hand away from his face. “Let me see your eye.”

He rubs it. His lid flutters wildly as he attempts to open it all the way, to no avail. “Crys, it’s kind of burning.”

I pause the movie and dash to his bathroom to grab awashcloth, wetting it with warm water. By the time I return, he’s managed to open his eye again. I press the washcloth over it. “I am so sorry. I think that’s the worst thing I’ve ever done to a guy.”

“Yup. Getting an acid burn in the eye is definitely a first for me.” He tilts his head as I remove the washcloth, revealing his gorgeous, evergreen eyes.

“Excuse me while I perish from embarrassment.”

He chuckles. “It’s fine. It isn’t burning anymore. I’ll forgive you eventually.”

I eye him, cheeks still red-hot. “The good news is, you’ve stayed conscious for over half of the first movie.”

“Because I have so many questions.”

“I think you might be aLord of the Ringsfan. Makes one of us,” I say. I hitPlayagain, resettling on the couch.

He brings my legs back over his lap like they belong there. “Which character would I be?”

I pretend to think, but the answer is pretty obvious. “Aragorn. One hundo percent.”

“Why?”

“Well, you both have some nice flow, for one. And you’re a firefighter. So you’re brave, daring, and chivalrous. When you want to be,” I add.

He nods in quiet agreement, clearly thrilled. “What about you?”

That’s an easy answer. “I’m definitely a hobbit. Hardworking, patient, fair, and loyal. Prefers to stay close to home. Strong moral code, sense of right and wrong.”

“Can’t argue with that. I’m pretty sure you have the Excalibur Fitness Center policies down to a science.”

I roll my eyes, tossing a throw pillow at his head. He ducks.When he brings his head back up, there’s a mischievous glint in his eyes. “You really wanna go there?”

I nod, accepting his challenge.

Before I even have a chance to speak, he pins my legs over his lap and begins tickling my sides mercilessly. My legs wriggle and thrash as I try to slither out of his strong grip. I squeal in between breaths, unable to do anything but give him a swift swat in the chest. “You’re the worst. What did I do to deserve this?”

“You mean other than blind me with acidic fruits?”

Point taken. I’m quite prepared to give my body over to suffer the consequences, so much so that I readily let him climb all over me. He places his weight on me, pinning my wrists to the arm of the couch for a brief second. This view is spectacular—his corded forearms planted on either side of my head, caging me in. I have the perfect view of the thick swoop of his eyelashes.

He watches me for a few moments before his gaze flickers to my lips. If I lifted my neck even slightly, I could kiss him. And I want to. I want to taste him again. Desperately. He swallows, his thumb tracing the line of my jaw, cupping my chin. He tilts my head up, letting out a soft sigh before his lips brush against mine, stealing my air and all my resolve.

Our lips meet again and again, sinking into a flurry of sweet kisses, gentle bites, just sampling and testing each other. I run one hand over the stubble of his jaw, while the other combs wildly through his thick, wavy hair, which feels like silk in my hands. I paw at him, wanting him closer.

He rolls off me and into a seated position. “Come here,” he commands, as if he can read my mind. He tugs me by the arm onto his lap.

I position my legs on either side of his thighs, feeling his enthusiasm for the situation as I settle onto him. His groan fills my ears and it makes me feel light, like I could float up and away with him.

There’s a fragility in the way he’s looking at me, truly at me. As if he’s inviting me in, allowing me to see into the depths of his soul. Every guy I’ve ever been with would already have my pants off right now, but he’s treating me like I’m something to be cherished, savored.

Being with him feels anything but fleeting. It’s like plunging headfirst into a deep pool, knowing there’s no way out.

A small smile falls upon his lips as he moves my hair behind my ear. “You’re so beautiful.” His breath comes out in shallow pants before he presses another soft kiss to the side of my mouth.

He runs a flurry of small kisses along the edge of my lips before coaxing them apart. His tongue melds with mine as his hand moves to the back of my head, tugging my hair gently. I’m surprised there’s any oxygen left in the entire apartment.

This feels different than our first kiss. While our steamy changing room make-out was mind-numbingly hot, akin to unlocking every secret fantasy I’ve ever had, it was lust spurring me on. The perfect storm of lust and loathing for a nameless gym patron with the body of a god.

---