Page 30 of And Then There Was Us
I want you to meet her, too. Just not yet.“She’s going to love the shoes.” Brianna had built such thick walls between her life with Layla and the idea of allowing any man in her life that she felt like she’d been preparing for it as she might a war. But the closer she got to Hugh, the more it became clear that when it came to the right person, the decision was relatively easy.
“We’re in my garage, nowhere near your work. Is it okay if I kiss you now?”
Instead of answering him, she leaned across the console and pressed her lips to his. He reached over to the passenger seat and scooped her into his arms, pulling her onto his lap and deepening the kiss. He kissed with slow, powerful strokes of his tongue, as if he wanted to savor every second, and the deeper he thrust his tongue, the more it aroused her. She felt so safe in his arms, like he wouldn’t ever let anything hurt her. When they drew apart, she ached for his return.
“I haven’t made out in a car since I was nineteen.” Hugh kissed her chin. “I kinda like it.”
He pulled her into another kiss and slid his hand along her hip. Brianna’s brain stopped functioning. She was all senses and desires. His cologne filled the car. The muscles in his thighs were strong and hard beneath her, and his large hand gripped her hip. His other hand cupped the back of her head and pulled her into a rougher kiss. She arched into him, pressing against his chest. Just as she’d experienced with him earlier, none of it was enough. She put her hands on his shoulders and kissed the stubble of his chin. Then she wrapped her mouth around his neck and sucked, not hard enough to make a mark, but enough to taste him, to feel the rough stubble against her tongue and send a bolt of lust right through her.
“Bree.” Her name was a heady whisper.
She felt a rise in his jeans, and she drew back.Touch me. Kiss me.
“You’re driving me crazy. I’m really trying to behave, but you’re testing my willpower.”
She couldn’t weigh her response or think past right or wrong. All she could manage was, “Good,” and then she took him in another insatiable kiss.
He reclined the seat, pulling her on top of him and deepening the kiss. Driven by need, she pulled up his T-shirt.
“No way.Really?” She ran her hands over his six-pack abs.
Hugh laughed. “I have to stay in shape to race.”
She kissed his stomach, then looked at him and bit her lower lip.
“What?” Hugh reached for her.
“I just want to put my skin against yours.” She lifted her shirt up just enough to expose her stomach and lay down on top of him. She moaned. “Mm, that feels good.”
“Do you have any idea how sexy you are?” He buried his hands in her hair and kissed her again. “You’re killing me, Bree.”
Her cell phone rang, and they both froze.
“Layla.” Brianna sat up, and before she could reach for her purse, Hugh had snagged it and pulled her phone from the side pocket.
“You promised her. Here.” He thrust her phone into her hand.
“Hi, baby,” Brianna said.
Hugh righted the seat beneath them, and when she tried to crawl from his lap, he held her in place. He fixed her shirt so it hung properly and covered her belly.
“I’ll be there soon, honey. How was the play?” Brianna mouthed,Sorry, to Hugh.
He mouthed,It’s fine, and ran his hand down the back of her hair. She felt silly sitting on his lap and embarrassed to have been interrupted.There’s no way he’ll want to see me now.She tried to focus on Layla.
“I’m so happy for you, Layla. Okay, tell Grandma I’ll be there in twenty minutes. I miss you too, baby.” She purposely didn’t look at Hugh, afraid to see the disappointment in his eyes. “Okay, see you soon.”
She ended the call and tried again to move from his lap, but he held her still.
“How’d she like the play?”
“She loved it. Hugh, I’m so sorry.” She chanced a glance at him and he was looking at her with warmth and interest, not disappointment. His lips curved up and then he tilted his head to the side.
“I love hearing you talk to her. Your whole face lights up. There’s no need to be sorry.”
She struggled free and moved to the passenger seat. Hugh wrinkled his forehead.
“Why are you in such a hurry to move away from me? I like when you’re close.”
