Page 18 of Calling the Shots

“Guess I am, Firecracker.”

The corner of her mouth tips up in a slow smile, her eyes twinkling in the porch light. Gracelyn opens the door wider and reaches for my arm, dragging me inside.

She wastes no time. Slamming the door behind me, she stalks forward and boxes me in like I did to her this morning.

“Thought you weren’t coming?” Her tone tips up, challenging me.

I shrug. “I wasn’t going to.”

The tip of her tongue darts out and glides along her lower lip and I’m transfixed, staring.

“Then why did you?”

I swallow hard, my Adam’s apple bobbing in my dry throat. No sense lying about it.

“I wanted to see you again.”

“And finish what we started?”

Damn.Cutting straight to the chase.

“If that’s what you want. Or we could sit around and talk about it, dissect and diagram out all the possibilities, the different ways this thing could go sideways.”

She shakes her head. “No, thanks.”

Inching closer to me, her body brushes up against mine and my muscles coil tight, nerves springing to life. Her floral scent winds around me, tickling my nostrils and lighting me up inside.

This woman does something to me, waking up a part of me that’s been sleeping for a very long time.

Her hand glides over my chest, those bright blue eyes wide and questioning. Daring me to lean in and kiss her, break through the barrier between us.

And damn if I don’t want to.

All the reasons why I shouldn’t do this race through my mind at warp-speed, a blurry jumble of ‘no’ and ‘this is wrong’ and ‘you’re going to regret this.’

“Fuck it,” I growl, grabbing her by the ass and pulling her soft, warm body into me.

Smashing my lips to hers, I kiss her with everything that’s been building up inside me all day. The want, the longing, the desire, like she’s the last woman I’m going to kiss in this lifetime.

I urge her mouth open with my tongue and she lets me slide in, rolling around and tasting her. She’s sweet like vanilla as I lick and suck, a tiny moan vibrating low in her throat. I grip the nape of her neck and trace light circles with my thumb, applying subtle pressure. She leans into me, her hands winding around to my ass, sliding into the pockets of my jeans.

“Have I told you you’re a great kisser?” she murmurs and I smile into her open mouth.

“Now you have. I have other skills too, you know.”

“Mmm, sounds promising.” She leans back slightly, gazing up at me through lowered lashes. “Show me.”

Without hesitation, without thinking, I peel her leggings down and drop to my knees.

“Step.” It’s not an ask, it’s a command, and she does as I say.

I toss the pants aside and work my way up her body, massaging first her calves, then her thighs with open palms. Her eyes flutter shut as she leans back against the door.

Inching toward the apex of her legs, I cup her sex. The silk of her panties is smooth on my skin as I trail my thumb over the fabric, finding her clit. Rubbing the sensitive spot, a moan slips from Gracelyn’s parted lips. She arches her hips forward into my hand, seeking more pressure, more friction.

“Greedy girl,” I tease, my voice low and husky.

I move my thumb back and forth over her clit, dampness soaking through the tiny scrap of fabric. Pressure builds in my lower torso as I watch her respond to my touch, her fair skin flushing pink. Head thrown back and eyes closed, she spreads her thighs wider, granting me better access. I hitch my thumbs in the sides of her panties and drag them down her legs. She kicks them off to the side and I dip my head, her scent filling my nose.

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