Page 4 of Just (Fake) Married
“The best,” he said. The s in that word got a little slurry. He handed me the whiskey and I pretended to take a sip.
“Well, good luck,” I said. “The Gulch could use a real doctor.”
“Oh, I’m never coming back to this town,” he said. “Not fucking ever. No, I’m going to be a world class surgeon who saves lives, far away from this place.”
There was zero reason I should be sad. Ethan and I didn’t even know each other, and it wasn’t like five minutes in a pantrywas going to make us friends. But the Gulch could honestly use a doctor and it was a shame he didn’t want to stay.
“That’s too bad,” I said.
“You’ll miss me?” he laughed, and listed to the side, against me. He was solid muscle and hot. I could feel his skin through our clothes. I touched his arm with the back of my hand, his hair tickling me.
“Sure,” I said, proud my voice came out solid, when I felt like Jell-O inside.
Our eyes met in the hazy light coming in from under the door. His were blue, even in the shadows. He reached up and tugged on one of my curls, pulling it tight and letting it spring back to its factory settings. He did it again and his thumb touched my face. I gasped, tasting his breath. Chocolate and whiskey. So delicious.
“When did you get so pretty?” he asked.
“I…ah…I don’t know,” I said, and wanted to kick my own butt for being stupid.
“You ever been kissed before, Harmony?”
I rolled my eyes. “Like, loads.”
Two times. Once in eighth grade and again last year, but…so far it wasn’t all that. I had this instinct that it should be more. That I was supposed to see fireworks and stars exploding behind my eyes.
Mostly, I tasted bad breath and felt teeth.
“But never by a McGraw?”
“I don’t think my mom or your dad would like that.”
“Fuck ‘um.”
Then it happened. He kissed me. It was careful at first, almost like an accident. Like he was just resting his lips against mine. But I tilted my head up like I was saying yes. And more. And please. His tongue licked over my lips and I could taste him. I opened my mouth on a startled gasp and he stepped forward,pushing into my body. His hands cradled my face and I felt…grown up. This was an adult kiss. His tongue stroked mine and the whole world fell away.
He was warmthand strength and heat. I wanted to lose myself in him. His mouth, his body.
I arched against his chest, felt his arms wrap around me, lifting me against him, and his leg pressed in between mine, my hips tight against his, and he was…oh, wow.
He was hard. I made Ethan McGraw hard.
My skin felt electric and there was a heavy heat between my thighs.
There were stars!
There were fireworks!
My breath caught in my chest and my toes curled in my boots. It was delicious and addictive, and, at the same time, it wasn’t enough. Not even close. I moaned and arched into him.
Immediately, he pulled away, panting against my lips.
“You okay?” he asked.
Okay? That was awesome. I wrapped my arms around his neck and dove in for more, but he was still pulling away and his face was at the wrong angle…
I ended up slamming the side of my head into his eye.
“Ow, fuck!” He clapped a hand over his eye.
