Page 73 of Deception & Daylight
Without missing a beat, I tackle her to the ground and tickle her ribs. “Take it back, Wildcat.” Her laughter fills the air and I want to bottle up her joy and keep it forever. Distracted, she pushes out of my hold and darts up the hill and around the side of the house. Panting and gasping for breath, she leans back against the siding as I stalk toward her with purpose.
When I pause to stare at her face, she gently cradles my face in both hands.
“Confident.” She kisses my cheek.
“Generous.” Another kiss under my jaw.
“Loyal.” Her lips touch my temple.
“Kind.” At the last word, she seals her lips over mine, and when I move to deepen the kiss, she doesn’t protest, letting out a tiny whimper as I pull her body flush against me. I’ll never get used to how perfectly we fit together.
Between kisses, she murmurs one final, heartfelt word: “Mine.” It’s barely more than a whisper, but it’s everything I didn’t know I needed to hear. With one last brushof our lips, I pull back to study her features, etching every detail into my memory like she’s the last thing I’ll ever see.
“Do you mean that?”
“What?”
“Am I yours, Maggie Watson? Because my heart has belonged to you for longer than I care to admit, and I’d really like to call you mine.”
“Are you asking me to be your girlfriend?”
“I’d get down on one knee and ask you to be my wife, but I don't think you’re ready for that yet.” My tone is teasing, but inside I’m completely serious. Resting my forehead against hers, I tuck a lock of hair behind her ear and whisper, “Be my girlfriend. For real this time.”
She pulls her face into a pout. “Aww, but I kind of like the idea of you on your knees, begging me to be your girlfriend.”
“I don’t beg, but if you want me on my knees, all you have to do is ask.”
Her cheeks flush an adorable shade of pink as her fingers tug at my belt loops — I don't think she even realizes she’s doing it. Trailing my nose along her neck, I sneak my tongue out to lick, then suck at her pulse point. “Mmmm. You like me on my knees for you, don’t you, baby?” Her chest heaves with each inhale. “Thinking about my mouth on that sweet pussy? We’d have to keep you quiet again, wouldn’t we?” I pull back to meet her gaze, and I know we’re both thinking back to that first night in the alleyway. But this isn’t the time or place. She hasn’t had time to process everything that came out today, and the next time I have her at my mercy, I want her to be clearheaded and certain she wants everything I have to offer. So, reluctantly, I pull away and release her from my hold. “Later. Right now, I want to hold my girlfriend in my arms while we watch a movie with our best friends.”
“Thanks for the whiplash.” With an eye roll, she pushes past me towards the house. “Asshole,” she grumbles, but I don’t miss the smile she’s trying to hide as she bites down on her bottom lip. I rush past, laying a slap on her ass, before holding the door open for her to pass.
“Fuck. Cade.”We both stop dead in our tracks as Paige’s moans float out through the screen door, and our plan for a quiet movie night flies right out the window.
“Come on, Wildcat. Let’s go home.”
Chapter 30
Mags
? Nonsense - Sabrina Carpenter
My finger hovers over the little paper airplane, the final draft of my manuscript poised for submission. “What are you waiting for?” Miles asks, lurking behind where I’m seated at his kitchen island. “If you don’t do it, I will.”
“What if I missed something? What if it’s not good.” Miles murmurs encouraging words, telling me how amazing I am, but I can't seem to get out of my own head. Uncertainty rolls through me and I start to second guess everything I’ve written. Pinching my eyes shut, I inhale a steadying breath. When the familiar whooshing sound of an email being sent off fills the silence, I open my eyes and panic surges through me.
“What the fuck, Miles?”
“Deep breath baby. You’re an incredible writer. You’ve already been through multiple rounds of edits and Victoria has been singing your praises for weeks. You’re going to drive yourself crazy trying to fix something that isn’t broken.”
My first instinct is to doubt everything he’s telling me, but when I stop to think it over, I realize there’s morethan a little truth to his words. I could change the book a million times over and never be happy with the outcome; that’s just how I’m wired. Nothing is ever good enough. And maybe there’s a deeper reason behind that. Maybe I’ve never felt likeI’mgood enough. Except, that’s not entirely true. Not anymore.
“Get dressed. I’m taking you out.”
“What if I don’t want to go out?”
“Don’t test me, Maggie Watson. Take your cute ass upstairs and put on one of your sexy little skirts, but leave the panties in your drawer. You won’t be needing them.” That last sentence is a gruff command, and even if he didn’t tell me what to do with my panties, the ones I’m wearing now are already ruined.
After a quick shower and a lengthy debate over what to wear, Miles comes into the room looking good as hell in a pair of jeans and a light blue henley with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows. He’s deliberately toying with me, knowing exactly how I feel about forearm porn.
