Page 84 of Five Alarm Love
“Me too.”
He tightened his arm around her back and pressed her palm to his chest.Then he let go of her hand, sliding his fingers up her arm to rest under her jaw, tilting her face up.“Man, Lou.”
“What?”
“I—” He shook his head and pressed his lips to hers, igniting sparks along every point of contact.
Changing angles, he swept his mouth over hers.When she let out a murmured gasp, the tip of his tongue teased along the seam of her lips.Her knees went weak, but he held her steady, the muscled cords shifting as he adjusted his grip.
The low rumble in his chest sent shockwaves through hers.Pulling back, he looked down at her, a half smile on his damp lips.The next featherlight kiss he brushed over her mouth wasn’t enough.She stood on her tiptoes to gain precious inches.Unable to stand the teasing, she dragged her hand up his chest and then rested it on the back of his neck, drawing him down to her.
The kiss went on and on, all sighs and moist heat.She answered the questioning probe with his tongue by opening to him, tangling her tongue with his.She inhaled, and mint and aftershave scent filled her nose.A loosening sensation in her hips made her gently rock against him until she was shocked back to reality.
More needed to be said first.More cutting to the chase.
She pulled back a few inches.“Tuli?”
After another brush of his lips against hers, he pulled his head up with a low groan.“Yeah, Lou?”He was breathing like a guy who had run a mile.
“Before we go… out… I want to be clear.You have dreams.”Her voice cracked.He reached both of his hands around her back, supporting and circling.“The future you wanted since we were kids.Back when we played house together.”A hard lump lodged in her throat.She rested her palms on his chest.“Those dreams involved a family.Kids.Grandchildren.”
He kissed the top of her forehead.“Yes, those were my dreams.”
“So, if we’re going out… I can’t provide that future for you.Be honest with yourself and what you want.In the end, it’ll just be disappointing.”
His eyes darkened.“Nothing about you will ever disappoint me, Lou.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do.”He bent down to kiss her again.
Turning her head to the side, she let his lips glance off her cheek.Lou hauled in a shaky breath.“I don’t want to hold you back from your future.”
“Maybe I want to see if we can make a new future together.”
Deep inside, she knew this was wrong.She couldn’t do this to him.But in the circle of his warm embrace, she couldn’t help herself.“Are you sure?”
“You’re what’s important in this equation, Lou.”
She sighed, melting into his tall, strong frame, and looped both of her hands behind his neck.
With a growl, he went in for another kiss that went on and on until she couldn’t tell where he started and she began.The world tilted.Still, he kept her upright and steady.
Her toes tingled.
You’re what’s important.
For now.
She should stop this.For both of their sakes.
He slanted his mouth in another interesting angle, and she hummed.
Tomorrow.She would worry about that tomorrow.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Tuli shifted inhis seat at the restaurant table.He had never gone to a dinner he had looked forward to, while simultaneously wanting it to be over as quickly as possible.On the other hand, he also wanted this evening to last forever.
