Page 102 of Here's to Now

I wince. “I’m sorry.”

“I know you are.”

“You know what? You’re right. We can go tonight. Come on.” I take her hand, pulling her toward the passenger door. She tugs back, refusing to move very far.

“I want you to do this on your own terms, not because I said something about it.”

“I promise thisison my own terms.” I open the door for her and motion her toward me. “Please, come meet my family. My sisters are going to love you.”

She hesitates, moving from one foot to another, shifting her eyes around the way too expensive parking garage.

“You’re going to cost me another hour in parking fees,” I tease. “If I have to pay another fifteen dollars, I’ll make you pay me back in kisses.”

She grins. “That doesn’t sound like a threat in the least.”

“Come on, Hales.Please.You’re my family now too. It’s only right you meet your new in-laws.”

When she doesn’t move, I take a step in her direction. Then another. Another. Step, step, until I’ve sidled directly in front of her, my chest brushing hers. She lifts her head, meeting my heated stare. I bend until my mouth grazes hers.

“You better get your sexy,marriedass into my car right this instant, Mrs. Haley Addams, or I will kiss you until you’re breathless.”

“Again, not a threat. You have to come up with—”

I cut her off with my lips, backing her up until she’s resting against the side of the car. I tilt her head and run my tongue against the seam of her lips, begging her to open for me. She obliges. I sweep my tongue inside, melding it with hers. I study her mouth with mine, learning every inch of it, just in case I missed something before. I kiss her until I’ve wormed my way into her heart, into her soul. I kiss her until she’s writhing against me, until she’s begging me for more. She moans and it vibrates my mouth, my head, my heart. Every particle inside me expands until I feel like I’m going to burst with need.

I know, Haley. I feel it too.

Peeling my lips from hers, I drag them across her cheek, over her jawline, and straight to that spot below her ear she loves so much. I suck on her skin lightly then bite down, only to swipe my tongue against the sting. She gasps and presses in for more. I repeat the action twice more, and then I kiss my way back to her lips. I want to feel her gasps, swallow her moans, and drown myself in her pleasured cries.

Haley’s hands find my hair and every time she pulls on the short strands, I fall into her farther. I have her pressed so tightly against the car that I’m certain we’ll leave a dent. I can feel her, every lovely inch. I feel the way her hands shake when she inches them from my hair to my shoulders to my chest. I feel the way she quivers whenever I tangle my tongue with hers. I feel it when her resolve turns weak and she starts losing her ability to hold herself up.

Catching her weight, I adjust us until my knee is firmly between her legs. She begins to move, the need to find friction to ease the ache settling between her legs proving to be too much.

I know, Haley. I feel it too.

Our kiss turns fervent, fiery, almost obsessive. I want more. She wants more. We push, pull, and hold on to one another until we can’t any longer, until wehaveto feel skin against skin.

Pulling back, I gaze into her juniper eyes. In her stare I can see my dock. I can see my rope hanging from the timber pole. Off in the distance is my boat floating gently against the waves. It takes every hit, every push the waves give. Just beyond my boat is another, and suddenly, I don’t feel so alone anymore. I feel hopeful. I can see a future. I can see a love strong enough to withstand the fiercest winds.

I know, Haley. I feel it too.

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