Page 45 of One Short Summer

My eyes snap up to his. “Huh?”

“Hot chocolate?”

My brain feels slightly buzzed, and it takes me a moment to catch up with his question. “Really?”

“Yup.” He’s turned away from me again, rummaging through the fridge—not that I’ll get tired of the excellent view of his naked back and his fine ass. “I thought we could have some.”

“I can’t say that’s what I had in mind when we came inside, but I guess.” A little huff comes out of my mouth, and I’m pretty sure that was my girly parts protesting.

“Don’t give me that look.” He moves to the other side of the kitchen island, one hand on his hip, a carton of cream in his other one.

My eyebrows pinch together automatically. “What look, exactly?”

“Like I just dumped a bucket of ice water on you or something equally outrageous.”

I can tell he’s teasing, but I’m so worked up, I’m not sure I can forgive that easily.

If I wasn’t glowering at him before, I definitely am now. “Well, you obviously didn’t, but you might as well have, I suppose.”

The corners of his lips twitch slightly. “Ahh. There’s my drama queen.”

I suddenly feel like the big, bad wolf, all ready to huff and puff. Apparently, that amuses him even more, if his growing grin is anything to go by. Seems like he’s serious and our make-out session really is done with this hot chocolate offer. “Actually, maybe I will take a shower, thank you very much.”

“Enjoy it, I hope you’ll feel better after.” He lines up the cream carton, milk jug, box of cocoa powder, and some sugar on the counter before walking over to me. “But first, come here. Can’t have you take off like this.”

His hands cradle my face as he bends down to give me a soft kiss on my mouth.

Somehow, this kiss is even more of a tease, and my frustration rises to a new level. I can’t deny the simultaneous satisfaction though that came with the contact.

He moves back far enough to look into my eyes. The smile has vanished from his face, leaving him with a dead serious look. “Trust me, there isnothingI’d rather do right now than follow you upstairs to finish what we started outside.”

“Then why don’t you?” I can’t help but ask.

Letting out a big breath, he lowers his head until our foreheads touch. “Because I have a phone call scheduled with my editor in less than half an hour. And believe me, I definitely want to take my sweet time with you.”

“Oh gosh, please just kill me now.” I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “Why didn’t you say something earlier?”

His chuckle is deep and rich. “Well, I didn’t exactly plan to have a hot make-out session in the hot tub with you when I went outside.”

I’m close to whimpering now. “Okay, okay. Stop talking about it already.”

“Plus, we have to go over to my mom’s to talk to Dahlia, remember?”

That totally slipped my mind with everything going on. Dang it.

“I assure you though, I’ll make it up to you.” The next kiss he gives me makes my breath hitch in my throat, and I’m ready to melt into a puddle.

It tastes like Gabe, hot and sweet, and a whole lot of promise.

This man sure knows how to kiss.

When we part a few long and very pleasure-filled minutes later, I have to collect myself for a moment before opening my eyes.

With his hands on my shoulders, he turns me around and away from him, slowly pushing me out of the kitchen and toward the hallway that leads to the staircase. “Now go already, before I change my mind and regret it later on.” I jump slightly when his hand lands on my butt with a soft slap.

“All right, all right, I’m leaving.” I’m barely able to restrain myself from stomping my way up the stairs, fully aware of Gabe watching my every move.

Dang you, sexual frustration. No one invited you to the party today.

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