Page 97 of Tangled Kisses
Reese looks at me, her dark eyes wide, the rim of the water glass trembling faintly between her fingers. She’s still in her dress from earlier, the fluid fabric clinging to every curve, and I can’t stop the slow grin spreading across my face. She’s everything. More than everything. Every empty night I spentwith strangers couldn’t touch what I feel right now, looking at her.
She catches me smiling and tries to cover her nerves with a joke. “I guess it was good news.”
“Yeah,” I say, voice low. And I move closer, steady, deliberate. A predator who already knows his prey is willing.
Her throat bobs as she swallows. “So, what did you two decide?”
I take the glass from her hand and set it aside. She stares up at me like she’s waiting for the ground to give way beneath her. I lean down, press my mouth to hers in a kiss that’s more command than question.
Without pulling back, I murmur against her lips, “We’re not talking about Lauren right now.”
Her brow furrows. “Don’t you think?—”
“The only thing I’m thinking about is you,” I cut in, my voice gruff with emotion, “and how much I need you.”
“But—”
I claim her mouth again, deeper this time, pouring every ounce of want into the kiss until she’s gasping against me. “I promise I’ll tell you everything. But right now, all I need is you. I need you to fall. Can you do that for me?”
I tip her chin up, forcing her to meet my gaze.
Silence stretches, and I see the war behind her eyes, the gears turning, the unanswered questions. The fear. The desire. Above it all, the love.
“Please fall, baby,” I repeat, my lips ghosting over hers as my hands splay around her waist. “I swear I’ll catch you.”
Tears brighten her eyes as a soft smile upturns the corners of her mouth. Finally, she gives the tiniest nod.
Her voice is a whisper as she motions toward the bathroom. “I was going to take a shower?—”
“Perfect.” I peel off my shirt in one motion, tossing it to the floor. “Let’s do that.”
Her eyes go wide. “You—you want to go first?”
“Hell no.” A wicked grin spreads across my face. “I’m going with you.”
“Wait a second.” Reese plants her hands on her hips, a flicker of sass breaking through her nerves. “What if you hog all the hot water? You’re like a foot taller than me.”
“How about I promise to keep your mind otherwise occupied?”
Her laugh is soft, uncertain. She tucks a piece of hair behind her ear, shifting her weight from one foot to the other like she’s not sure whether to stay rooted in place or bolt. I know her tells—the lip-biting, the nervous laughter, the way she avoids my gaze when she’s out of her depth. And I swear to God, it’s the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen.
“Are you nervous?” I ask, voice low.
Her eyes drop, but I see the flush racing up her throat. She nods once.
“First time showering?” I tease.
That earns me a giggle, light and breathy, breaking the tension between us. “No. I’m an old pro at that.”
“Oh, yeah?” I step in close, so close I can feel her breath feather against my jaw. My fingers slide to the buttons of her dress, one by one slipping free until the fabric parts over warm skin. Her shoulders, her chest—she’s unfolding for me, and I can’t look away.
“This,” I murmur, eyes tracing every inch of her, “I’ve got to see.”
Her hands lift, hesitant, and come to rest against my chest, so soft I barely feel the pressure. Yet that small touch undoes me.
The truth of this moment, the reality of her choosing me. We’re finally here.
The emotion slams into me so hard I have to stop, forehead lowering to hers. Her heartbeat pounds against me, fast and frantic, like it’s trying to sync with mine.
