Page 17 of Marked By The Grouchy Grizzly

He steps forward and I shiver as he slides his hand onto my arm.

My eyes drop to his mouth. His lips are so sexy. Everything about this man is sexy.

He brushes his fingers against my cheek, trailing down to my jaw with the gentlest touch. “Lainey,” he whispers, my name rolling off his tongue like he’s savoring it, like it belongs to him now.

I don’t wait. I don’t think.

I rise onto my toes and tilt my chin up.

I’m not sure if I kiss him or he kisses me, but my breath is ripped out of my lungs as our lips connect.

His kiss is hungry and desperate, like he’s been waiting for this moment forever. And maybe he has. Maybe we both have. A low possessive growl rumbles in his chest as he wraps his arms around me and pulls me closer, gripping me like he’s afraid I’ll disappear again.

The night hums around us—crickets chirping in the distance, the faint sound of cars on the distant highway. The air is crisp and cool, but Julian is like a scorching bonfire, hiswarmth wrapping around me and making everything just right.

God, I could sink into this kiss forever. This moment, this man, this kiss… it feels like home. It feels…right.

I break away, breathless, my palms sliding up and down his big strong arms. His forehead rests against mine, his chest rising and falling in unsteady breaths.

Then, my gaze drops.

Oh.

My eyes widen when I see his long thick erection standing straight up between us, rock hard and ready to go.

My cheeks burn red as I stare at it, knowing this incredible man is hard forme.

“Sorry,” Julian says, cursing under his breath as he steps away.

“It’s okay,” I whisper, not able to take my eyes off it.

But he’s already in motion, ripping an old tin sign right off the wooden wall like it’s made of paper, sending the rusted screws flying.

He covers his erection with it, looking a little embarrassed. He doesn’t have to be embarrassed, and he definitely doesn’t have to cover it up.

“I keep messing everything up,” he says, his jaw tight. “I’ve been dreaming of this moment every day for all twenty-seven years of my life. I never thought I’d mess up this badly.”

I slide my hand down his chest, feeling his heart pounding under all that muscle.

“You’re not doing so bad,” I say, licking my lips.

His fierce green eyes soften as he looks at me. “Lainey, let me fix this. The tattoo. Let me make it right.”

My friends would freak out if they knew I was here. If they knew I was about to give this guy a second chance.

“I don’t want you to be upset with me.”

“I’m not,” I tell him.

“For your friends then,” he says. “So at least they don’t hate me.”

“Okay,” I whisper, smiling as I take his hand. “Let’s go inside.”

He opens the door and we step inside, about to try this again.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Julian

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