Page 31 of Somebody to Save
Good.
Lifting my hand, I cupped Addison’s cheek, grazing the slightly raised skin of her birthmark with the tips of my fingers.
“Well, if they’re going to stare, we might as well give them something to look at.”
She considered my words, and in a second, her eyes lit with mischievous desire. She licked her lips, and her attention bounced to mine. Yes, we were thinking the exact same thing.
I leaned forward and slowly pressed our lips together. And the rest of the world disappeared. Especially when I slipped my tongue against her slightly parted lips. She gasped, and I took the opportunity to taste her. She so willingly let me lead the kiss, like it was second nature to do so, and I craved every soft brush of her lips and quiet moans. Her hands fisted in the lapels of my jacket, and she scooted across the seat like she was eager to be closer.
Although it felt like it was just her and me, that wasn’t actually the case.
The restaurant erupted into more soft applause as the pianist finished another song and drew us back to the present. We reluctantly separated, and I gazed down at her to see her lips still parted and wet.
“How do you do that?” she whispered, barely loud enough to be heard over the music and quiet chatter around us. She was eyeing my lips like she was fighting the urge to taste them again.
“Do what, baby girl?”
“Make me feel so much with just a freaking kiss.”
I hummed low in my throat and swallowed down the glee, knowing she felt it, too. She’d been fighting her feelings so hard, I worried she would never come to terms with it.
“It’s how it’s supposed to feel.”
“So, you feel it, too?”
I nodded, and her eyes slid to mine. My hand still cupping her cheek, I ran my thumb along her soft skin and faint blush. I could see the question in her eyes, and I stayed quiet, hoping she would speak it.
It took her a moment, an internal war playing out over her features, before she asked, “Have you felt it before?”
It wasn’t the question I expected, and it took me a moment to consider my answer. But I knew I couldn’t hesitate too long. I just had to decide which answer would scare her the least. I could lie and tell her that I had, or I could muster the courage to tell the truth.
I chose the latter.
“Never.”
FIFTEEN
OH NA-NA, WHAT’S MY NAME?
Addison
To sayI’d been nervous before the date would be putting it lightly. I had a full-on panic attack earlier in the day and had to call Bri to calm me down. She’d talked me off the ledge and demanded I put on my“You’re a Badass”playlist so I would remember who the hell I was.
Her words, not mine.
But it worked just as well. I was Addison Wren Hawkins, and I deserved to be taken out on a fancy date by the sexy lawyer who made me want sweet, depraved things. I put on my favorite purple dress that hugged all my curves and took my time with my makeup and hair.
And the date had gone better than I imagined. We’d drank and laughed, and slowly throughout the evening, I found myself growing more comfortable. I wasn’t questioning my every word or movement. Beckett made me feel safe in a way I’d never experienced before. And every time he let a pet name slip, like “Bubbles” or “baby girl,” I wanted to drop to my knees beneath the table. Again, an urge I’d never felt before and one that terrified as much as it excited me.
We drove back toward Lake Hills, Beckett’s firm palm on my thigh. We were casually discussing our favorite movies and TV shows we’d seen recently, and I enjoyed the lightheartedness of the conversation.
He made it all feel easy.
But when we pulled into the Lake Hills parking lot, I realized my mistake.
“Where’s your car?” he asked, and I cringed.
“Umm…it’s in a different parking lot. You can just drop me at the front. It’s a short walk.”
