Page 182 of New York Love Stories: Vol. 1

Holding his hand up, he says, “I’ve never pinky-promised with anyone other than my mom. Not even Nick when we were little. But I will with you if you will with me.”

When his pinky stretches out, I burst out laughing. “Hell yeah, I’ll pinky promise with you.” Our pinkies wrap around each other’s, and he bends to give me a kiss. I kiss him because in the span of an hour, I went from thinking I blew it with this amazing man to being in his arms again.

He kisses me once more. I revel in the sweetness. And then he says, “Thank you for giving me another chance.”

I could point out that I’m the one who lied and kept secrets, but I wrap my arms around his neck and say, “It’s okay. We’ll call it even.” That wins me a chuckle that I’ll happily take all day, every day, and in the middle of the night in the hallway. “Come in, and I’ll give you a tour.”

I shut the door behind him and let him wander on his own into the living room. A smile comes easy, and he says, “I like it.”

Not wanting to let another moment pass, I go and kiss him because I can. Our lips meet, and his hands slide over the sides of my pajamas. But then he leans away from me, appearing to be confused. After he bends down, I ask, “What are you doing?”

Clapping his hands twice, he turns back to me, and asks, “Where’s Rascal?”

Oops!“About that . . .”

25

Juni

I’ve never hada man in my bedroom before, or in my bed for that matter.

But there Drew sits at the end of my bed in quiet contemplation. I imagine this is something he does quite often. He tends to be a serious guy.

Since he doesn’t know I’m awake, I take a moment to study him. The muscles in his back are defined but not big like Thor, more like Captain America in the earlier movies. Those are the muscles that tease me when he takes off his jacket. Shirts are tight but tailored for me to admire his body.

The black band of his boxer briefs isn’t graffitied with a designer name. I like that for some reason. And when he looks toward the windows, I notice how dark the stubble covering his jaw is, tempting me to rub up against him like my own personal scratch post. I’m reminded how raw my thighs feel and now I know why. I’ll take this feeling anytime if it means I’m with him.

Friends . . .I was such a fool for thinking we could remain friends. We’re friends, of course, but there was always something more between us. I smile, not from the sex, though that is worth a standing ovation, but from the fact Drew thought I was worth a second chance.

I can’t bear to not see his eyes again. I nudge him in the buns with my big toe.

He turns around, smile growing, and grabs my foot. “Hey there,” he says.

“Couldn’t sleep?” I gently clear the grogginess from my throat.

Chuckling, he glances at the daylight fighting the blinds to sneak in. “It’s almost noon.”

A quick check of the clock verifies the truth. Snuggling the blanket to my chest, I roll to the side, having a hard time not grinning while looking at him. “I guess that sex, cooking, fighting, making up, and making love took it out of me.”

“Yeah. Me too.” He angles toward me and rests his weight on his hand. “I was thinking about how you asked me what I was doing today. Are we still on?”

With all that went on last night, I’d almost forgotten. He didn’t, and that makes me swoon a little. “Definitely.” I sit up and crawl to him, bare naked, and sit on his lap.

I like the way he takes his time tracing over my body, not coy about his gaze lingering longer in some places more than others. He doesn’t make me feel shy or ashamed, but the opposite. I feel brave and sexy around him. I feel empowered.

His body’s reaction also speaks volumes about his thoughts. I wiggle a little and then ask, “Are you in a hurry?”

Like a tiger protecting his pride, he rolls us over with such ease and care. His hand is under my head as he lays me down gently. Hovering over me, he pushes some wild strands of hair away from my face. “Do you know what I thought the first time I saw you?”

“Why is this crazy person yelling at me?”

“No.” He chuckles, but then takes his sweet time peering down my body and then into my eyes again. “I thought you were stunning. Your cheeks were pink from running and your hair was in a loose ball on your head. But the first things I noticed were your eyes and the happiness within them. There was something so incredible about that moment, like I finally knew what I’d been missing.”

His voice had grown softer through the confession, a sadness overcoming him.

I push the hair that’s fallen over his forehead to the side, and ask, “What were you missing?”

“Something to look forward to.” He kisses me quick and then pops off the bed. “I have no idea what you have planned, but let’s get dressed and go.”

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