Page 11 of The Corner of Heartbreak and Forever
“No!Please!Stop!” Her hair blew around her face, and she had a wild, sexy look in her eyes.
“With you hanging on to me like this? Not a chance.” Cold water inched up his waist and over her hips. He gripped her thighs, feeling their warmth against his palms despite the cold water.
“Reed!”
She began climbing him like a tree to keep from getting wet, which only made him laugh and hold on tighter. Her lips were a whisper away. He was sure he’d died and gone to heaven. The heck with what happened all those years go. The heat in her eyes held him captive as she crushed her sweet softness against him, her body contradicting the anger in her voice. The rest of the party faded away, until there was nothing but the warmth of Grace’s breath on his cheeks, the look of longing in her eyes, and the feel of her hands pressing into the back of his neck as he lowered his lips to hers, taking the kiss he’d spent years missing.
GRACE WAS LOST in a sea of steamy sensations. Reed’s mouth was as possessive and demanding as she’d remembered. He tasted of beer and potent male, an intoxicating combination underscored by the hard press of his chest against hers. One rough hand moved along her thigh, then cupped her butt so firmly, her entire body clenched with desire. His other arm circled her body like a seat belt, keeping her close as his fingers threaded into her hair and then fistedtight. She’d forgotten the sting of that grip, but her body hadn’t. Ripples of lust slithered through her, and her hips rocked forward. His scruff abraded her cheeks as he angled her face to the exact place he wanted and took the kiss deeper. Even through their clothes and the cold water splashing her skin, heat blazed between them.
Grace buried her hands in his hair, meeting every luscious stroke of his tongue with an eagerness of her own. Reed didn’t just kiss. Hetookandconsumed. Every move brought a tightening of his arms, making it hard to breathe—and oh, that was glorious!Thiswas the element that was missing from every single kiss she’d ever had after leaving Oak Falls. This intensity, the way his biceps pulsed against her and his body anchored her.
“Grace…”
His gravelly voice trailed off, but that didn’t keep it from winding through her like liquid fire. “Reed—” His name slipped from her lips, hungry and needy. Her eyes flew open. “Reed!Oh no! No, no, no.” She struggled to free herself, but his grip was too tight.
“Calm down,” he said.
“Don’t tell me to calm down! Wekissed!” What was she thinking?
“Several times in fact,” he said all too smugly, and flashed that boyish, lopsided smile that made her heart flip-flop. “We haven’t lost it, Gracie. Our kisses could start a firestorm.”
“Don’t talk about it!”Firestorm? They could cause an earthquake!She pushed on his shoulders, trying not to get sidetracked by the endearment he’d used, which made her heart tumble. She had to get away from him before any other organs became reckless. All around them people laughed and splashed. She was glad to see Brindle and Morgyn too preoccupied with Trace and his friends to have noticed her momentary indiscretion.
“Admit it. Our kisses are smokin’ hot, Grace.” Reed tightened his grip on her, a challenge simmering in his eyes.
“Fine.Our kisses are still hot.”More like toe-curling.“Now will you let me down?”
“You sure you want me to?” He waggled his brows.
No—and that’s a problem.“Yes, please.Now.”
He slowly lowered her until her thighs skimmed the frigid water. She squealed and scrambled back up his body, clinging to him like her life depended on it.
A deep laugh rumbled up Reed’s chest, and he held on tight, his hands splayed across her soaking-wet bottom. Like one of Pavlov’s dogs, she grew excited with anticipation, and she groaned.
“Reed, please!” She pointed to the grass and saw Sable standing on the banks, watching them with an amused expression.Darn it.She’d never hear the end of this.
He carried her out of the water and set her feet on the grass. Grace wrapped her arms around herself to ward off the cold as she scanned the ground for her sandals. Her heart was beating so hard she was sure he could hear it.
“Gracie.” He reached for her hand. His gaze was softer now, and his smile less challenging, tempered even.
“It’sGrace,” she said, shivering.
“You’ll always be Gracie to me.”
Was he purposely trying to turn her insides into pretzels? She never should have come out tonight. “That was part of our problem,” she said before she could stop herself. “I’m not small-townGracieanymore, Reed.”
His eyes turned serious. “I know. You’re an award-winning playwright and producer, and I’m happy for you.”
She lowered her gaze, feeling stupid for making such a point about her name, and when she looked up again, she was bowled over by how much she wanted to say to him. But she had no idea how, or where, to start. How could she ask him why he’d told her he’d never even consider leaving his family and then done so only a few weeks later? She couldn’t, that’s how.
Instead she said, “Thank you, but it sounds more glamorous than it is.”
“Can we talk? Sit by the fire, dry off for a bit?”
“Talk? Or are you going to try to put those weapons on me again?”
“Weapons?” He arched a brow.
