Page 67 of Not the Plan

She took another step, resting against the doorframe. “The waiter didn’t tell you?”

He took a half-step, to lean against the other side. “No.”

She moistened her lips. “I was the DD last night. And I’d already pushed my luck by having a cocktail before we ate. The waiter was supposed to bring you another of your drink and thank you for me.”

Another reality began to form in his mind. A possibility he hadn’t conceived of.

“You’re sure you aren’t mad at me?” he whispered.

She frowned a little, readjusting her crossed arms. “Do you want me to be mad at you? If I storm off somewhere and slam a door, will it help?”

“Blunt, honest?” he asked.

She nodded.

“It might.” He shrugged, looking down. “Guess old expectations die hard.” He looked back up into her deep brown eyes and his heart stuttered.

She stepped in close, placing a hand on his cheek.Are her fingers trembling?

“Gotta say, I don’t like what I just saw,” she said.

Shit. She saw what a mess I am and doesn’t want anything to do with me.

Her brow knitted. “Uh-oh. I said the wrong thing. You just got all mopey. We’ve spent at least three nights a week on the phone or a video date. Why would I do that with someone I don’t trust?”

“I…I guess you wouldn’t,” he said.

“I think we should change the subject,” she whispered, leaning in as close as possible without touching him. He followed the pull, falling forward to kiss her; then she pulled back.

“Can we?” she asked, still so close he could feel the heat of her words.

The air vibrated, stealing his breath, restricting his ability to hear anything, be aware of anything, other than her. Her lips, her eyes, the rise and fall of her breasts as her breath quickened along with his.

“We can,” he whispered, and let himself fall. She caught him.

Groaning deep, he kissed her back, crushing her to him. Theywavered, then she pulled away, grabbing his hand and dragging him deeper into the basement.

Tucked in a niche, she attacked him, moaning as he devoured her. Dropping his files and holding her close, he turned them so that her back was against the wall, her surprised cry, muffled by his mouth. He released her lips and breathed into her ear.

“I’m sorry I freaked out,” he breathed, before kissing her again, then mouthing his way along her jaw, reaching her neck.

“Don’t be…” She sighed. He pulled back to look her in the eye. “Don’t apologize, we’ve all got baggage.” She slid a hand over his shoulder, to his chest as she licked her lips. “And yours comes in a very nice package.” She looked back up at him and bit her lip. Kissing her again, he shuddered as her nails scratched down his chest, leaving a trail of sparks. Her mouth left his as her head tilted back to let out a high-pitched sigh. He’d slid his hand to her breast. Cupping it, he pushed upward a tiny bit, measuring its weight. He let out a stream of air through pursed lips.

“Tell me to stop, Isadora,” he breathed, still focused on his hand. “Tell me to stop…” He tried to clutch the fullness of her breast, but there was too much. She cooed at his harder touch. He groaned and bent to kiss her collarbone, her chest. He scraped his thumb over the center of her breast, her breath hitched deep.

“Please don’t,” she sighed. “Don’t stop.”

He groaned again, louder, taking her in his arms, gorging himself on her. She clung to him, the heat of her body against his from chest to thigh made him curse the existence of clothing.

“Come over?” he murmured, his lips still entangled with hers.

“What?” she whimpered as he mouthed along her jawline and down to the birthmark below her ear. He grazed it with his stubble and then sucked, eliciting a sound he’d only imagined hearing if he were inside her.

“Come over. Tonight.” He hoped she took the tremble of his entire body for lust, not the trepidation he had to force away.

Her hand in his hair brought his ear to her lips.

“No,” she whispered, dragging his earlobe through her teeth.He died inside at the same time as he had to claw the wall and let out an open-mouthed groan. “Not tonight,” she panted. “Tomorrow.”

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