Page 49 of Replay

I turned back to the bunny. Her eyes ran down my body and back up. I didn’t have the curves she did. Mine were the “too many snacks and not enough exercise” kind. My idea of a workout was walking to and from class instead of taking the subway, and the weather had not been accommodating lately. None of my curves spilled over my bra, fighting to get free the way hers did. I’d dressed to stay warm in an arena and be comfortable. The tatty pair of Uggs, well worn jeans, and a puffy jacket kept me warm but didn’t do shit for my figure.

Maybe she didn’t mean to look like she couldn’t believe we were together. But her skepticism showed, and hey, I’d actually dated the guy for almost two years.

I blamed it on my pride and some vanity when I pushed up toward Josh and kissed him.

Chapter 16

I’m Sorry. I’m Not

Josh

Katie was kissing me. It took a moment to catch on. She started to pull away and I thought Hell no and wrapped my arm around her back, bringing her closer. She relaxed into me, the way she used to. I wasn’t sure why she’d launched herself at me, but I was on board. Totally on board. Had we moved past friends just like that?

I wove my other hand into her hair, tilting her face enough that we could make the most of the kiss. I used my tongue on her lower lip and she opened, letting me into her mouth. Yes. Kissing Katie wasn’t like kissing anyone else. We’d learned with each other, and it still did something to me no other kisses had. They made me feel warm and welcome and home.

My hand moved down to her ass. She had more flesh there than before and I wanted to explore. But that was too much for her. She pulled back and I let her go reluctantly. She was breathing fast and I knew she’d felt my hard dick against her. She looked around, but no one was paying any attention to us. The woman who’d come in while Katie was listening to her message was long gone.

She closed her eyes, her cheeks flushed. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m not.”

She laughed and opened her eyes. “I just…that woman.”

“The puck bunny?”

“The way she felt entitled to touch you. It got to me.”

That was disappointing. She’d just kissed me to scare off a jersey chaser? Was that all the kiss had been about?

“Then I grabbed your hand, which now that I think about it is just as bad as what she was doing and she looked at me like you couldn’t possibly be with me and well, you had, and I wanted to prove a point.”

She hadn’t been overcome with an urge to kiss me because I was wearing my lucky jeans that made my ass look good. But there were a couple of things I needed to straighten out with her. “Just to be clear, you have permission to touch me anytime you want. I don’t like it when strangers do that, but I like it when you do.”

She blinked at me.

“And of course I could be with you. You’re amazing. You were back in high school, and you are now. I mean, I’m glad you kissed me, but you didn’t have to.”

She wasn’t holding my hand anymore. She was chewing on her bottom lip though, so she was worried. I wanted to grab her again, kiss her until she didn’t worry anymore, but Katie was a thinker while I was more impulsive.

“The bunny is gone. Do you want to go now?”

The nod Katie gave me was relieved, so I held the door open for her. I wouldn’t push. But she’d definitely been into that kiss, which made me more optimistic.

This was a good step on the Get Katie Back plan.

The air was cool after the bar, a sure sign winter was coming. Katie tucked her jacket tight to her with crossed arms. I considered putting an arm around her, just to keep her warm, but figured that would upset her. I’d gotten a kiss tonight. Not a brief meeting of lips, but a real, arousing, tongue-in-mouth kiss, so I’d settle for that. For now.

“Any problems?” I asked as I pointed the car in the right direction to take her home.

“Problems?”

“The phone call.”

“Oh, no. Just a change in location for a lab.” She started chewing on her lip again, so I let the conversation lapse.

With no traffic, it was only five minutes later when I stopped in front of Katie’s building. She stretched out her hand to open the door.

“You know, if you ever want to go to another game, I’m happy to get a ticket for you. Or tickets, if you want to bring a friend.”

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