Page 71 of Any Second Now
Raleigh snorts a laugh and it should break the growing tension between us right now, but it just doesn’t. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t want to ask anyone else out.” I pluck a few more pieces of popcorn from her lap, the couch, and one perched on her shoulder.
Her laugh is easy and light, just like it was back in college when she’d make fun of me as I tried to flirt with her.
“Anyone else?” She repeats my words.
“Yeah.” I reach over and tuck a strand of her wispy hair behind her ear, letting my fingers linger against her earlobe. “It was an excuse to spend time with you.”
“With me?”
“You keep asking me questions.” I can’t help but lick my lips, tasting a hint of butter. I glance down at her mouth, plump and pink. “I’m in a weird place.”
“With your injury?”
“That, and more. But then you show up in town in that pink contraption.” I swallow hard and lean toward her, closing the distance by half. “Looking at me like this. How am I supposed to resist you?” Desire roars through my veins.
She makes ammmsound.
Does she want this as much as I do? I don’t know. Maybe. Because I want her so bad right now that my whole body aches.
But this isn’t only about wanting to hook up with her.
I wanther.
“Why did you come here, Raleigh? When you knew Lucy was gone?”
“I don’t know.” She shifts her body but doesn’t drop eye contact.
“What was your plan? I know you had one, even if you say you didn’t, because I know you, Raleigh. What was going on?—”
“Atticus,” Raleigh interrupts with a strangled sigh. “Stop overthinking things. That’smyjob, remember? And even I don’t want it anymore.”
I blink. That’s what she said to me on New Year’s Eve. She’s right, but there’s more I want to say. I’m realizing things in this very moment—how much I want to see where this goes with Raleigh. Even though she’s already halfway through her eight-week sabbatical.
I want to try tobewith her.
Without my sister watching over us or my teammates paying close attention.
“Okay. Then what do we do now?” I ask.
She leans forward and I can feel her hot breath on my mouth.
“Let’s start with kissing.” And then she brings her lips to mine.
Her mouth is soft and she opens it up to me, letting me wrap my tongue around hers in a move that is sensual and sweet. All overthinking—all thoughts, actually—leave my head and it’s only the press of our lips together, the taste of her mouth, her skin beneath my fingers.
And then she’s up on her knees and swings one leg over so she’s straddling me, her hands resting on my shoulders. My hands fall instinctively to her waist.
She pulls back and looks at me, her expression heated but also unsure.
“Too much?”
“Fuck no, Raleigh.” I shake my head. “Not enough.”
She watches my face as I move my thumbs on her waist, lovingthe feel of the soft skin of her curves. I want to pull her hips down flush against me, but I force myself to behave as she works out whatever’s in her head.
“You know, you’re the first guy I’ve kissed since before I married Jacob.”
