Page 116 of Every Chance After

“Marina, I’m a fucking numpty.”

Laughs bubble through her distress like sunshine through a cloud. “Youarea numpty.”

I shrug lightly. “I wanted it to be the two of us, but overthinking got the better of me. I thought I might be doing you a favor, easing you back into dating with someone I know is a good guy.”

She leans against the doorjamb, arms folded across her pink blouse, and blows a lock of hair out of her eyes. “You’rea good guy.”

“I didn’t think you’d want me. Or, at least, didn’t think you should.”

“Damn it, Grady. You don’t get to decide that. I don’t want another Tripp or anyone else. I wantyou. Just tell me—what is it about me? Am I too young? Too broken? Too much of a bad reminder? Truth. What’s holding you back?”

I take a breath, if only to gather strength to say it. “I’m falling hard and fast, and it’s making me dizzy. Nothing makes sense. How can I curse the day I hurt you and be grateful for it at the same time? How could you even want me after everything? You are so loving, so forgiving, and so beautifully, unequivocally, perfectlyyou. Marina, you’re everything I want, exactly as you are—and that scares the hell out of me. I’m sorry for that shitshow. Sorry for pulling away. Sorry that I let you think for a second that you aren’t enough for me. You are more than enough. You’reeverythingto me. Truly.”

She takes me in, tilts her head to one side, and nibbles her bottom lip. Meanwhile, my heart rams in my chest, waiting for her to say something. She doesn’t smile, and finally delivering the words I’ve wanted to say doesn’t feel like enough.

“I brought you dessert, if that helps,” I say, offering her the container.

She takes it, setting it on a side table next to her. “It doesn’t hurt.”

“Give me another chance. A real date tomorrow night, just you and me—I promise.”

Her brow pinches as she glances from the porch floorboards back to me. “You’re falling for me?”

“Darling, how could I not be?” I breathe out in a sigh. “You had me ateep, and a hundred times after that. You had me the second you fell into my arms.”

She laughs, her eyes rolling to fight back the tears I see welling in them. “Kiss me, then, you numpty.”

Relief sweeps me as I close the distance between us, but I don’t kiss her yet. My hands tangle with hers before my fingers drift up her arms slowly, softly, and then trace her collarbone across her shoulders.

Her breathing quickens as my thumbs roll over her cheeks and my fingers circle her neck. Maybe I’m overthinking, wanting to savor this. But her hands rise to my forearms, and she explores me with touches, too. My forehead rests against hers, taking her in until we’re breathless and desperate.

She smiles, and I smile back, and my lips land on hers like that. Smiling.

Soft and sweet eases into intense in a breath—her lips are a delicate comfort and driving force at once. She plays me like a game that she knows exactly how to win. And I’m happy to surrender. A light bite on my bottom lip has me melting into her, and when her tongue playfully finds mine, I moan over how good it feels.

Her hands drift over my chest, tugging my shirt to pull me closer. My hands wrap her up, tightening us together, feeling all her glorious curves pressed against me.

It’s not just a kiss. It’s the kiss to end all others. The last first kiss.

She pushes me against the opposite doorjamb, taking over and making us laugh at her unrestrained aggression. I fucking love it. She’s beautifully confident and unhindered. I expected sweet and amenable, not to be turned inside out by how unbelievably sexy this is. She moans against my lips and whispers my name like a prayer.

“Falling even faster now,” I say.

“I’ll catch you,” she promises, and I believe her. All my insecurities and fears melt away in the warmth of her arms and the strength of her promise. I have no doubts anymore.

She must think the same when she says, “Want to come in?”

I rest my forehead against hers, and I ache to say yes. “If I do, I won’t leave.”

She smirks. “I know.”

I groan, considering it. “I want you so fucking bad but… Say yes to tomorrow night and no to me right now.”

“Yes. And why?” Her brow cocks in suspicion—the same reaction she had when she learned about my unplayed piano.

“This isn’t me ignoring a beautiful opportunity, Marina. This is me savoring the hell out of it. Take me inside with you, and I won’t hold back. I will worship you until there’s nothing left.”

A breathless sigh escapes her. “Why would I say no to that?”

---