Page 84 of When We Were Us
I feel like I’m a virginal eighteen-year-old again. Except, this time, I would absolutely let Hank Hayes ruin me in five seconds flat if he asked.
Pushing my teeth into my bottom lip and squeezing my eyes shut, I blurt, “Like you want to eat me.”
There is a beat or two of silence, and then a deep rumble of laughter comes from his chest. “Oh, you have no fuckin’ idea.”
My breath comes out in a whoosh, and I brace my hands on the edge of the sink. He lifts his hand and runs it up the back of mine, which is gripping the counter. He trails a finger up my forearm, over my bicep, and ever so slightly grazes the side of my breast.
My breath hitches in my throat and I swallow hard, letting my eyes fall closed.
His fingers continue his soft, erotic assault of my senses when he brushes the hair back from my shoulder and leans down to gently skim his lips over it. Goosebumps break out over my shoulders and my nipples pucker against the linen of my dress.
I shiver and let out a quiet, nervous sigh before bringing my gaze up to his. His hand cups my face, and his thumb gently tugs at my bottom lip. Turning my head further into his hold, our lips are literal centimeters apart. I canfeel his breath on my lips—it's shallow and so damn sexy.Heis so damn sexy.
My eyes search his—those stormy gray depths. I reach for him and lift the hem of his shirt a bit, reveling in the feel of the soft hair on his stomach when I run a finger along the skin just above his waist band.
He breathes my name and it's like a prayer.
“Uncle Hank!”
We startle apart and I straighten, reaching to shut off the tap to the almost overflowing sink when Paige bursts in. The screen door slams behind her, and her sandals slap wildly against the hardwood floor as she comes running around the corner into the kitchen.
“We’re making s’mores, but Grammy forgot the chocolate bars! They’re in the pantry, but I’m too short. Can you get them, Uncle Hank?”
‘Yep. All right, Pip. I’ll get ‘em.” He lifts his hand and scrubs it down his face in what I know is amused frustration. As he turns toward the pantry, I see him try to subtly adjust himself. Judging from the monster-sized bulge he’s packing, he needs it.
I feel a quick flash of heat flare on my cheeks, and I turn away, a smile spreading across my face.
“You guys are sooo slow washing these dishes. Grammy should have just done it herself,” Paige prattles on, looking up at me. “Daddy said you guys were just taking your time on account of Uncle Hank?—”
“Here you go, motor mouth. Go on now. Wren and I will be out in a minute,” he says with a laugh and hands her the package of king-sized chocolate bars.
She giggles and he ruffles her hair before she turns and runs from the room. “Thanks, Uncle Hank!”
I roll my lips together with a shake of my head, watching her go.
“Cockblocked by a five-year-old,” he mutters, but there’s no anger in it, and I burst out laughing.
I have no idea what the hell we're doing. So, I just turn back to the sink and begin scrubbing the baking dishes.
He comes to stand next to me and clears his throat. “We ok?” He takes the dish from me, and I pick up the next one, glancing at him.
I study his face for a few seconds. My eyes search his, then drop to his mouth and back up again. I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from kissing him outright.
“Yeah.” I nod once and bump his shoulder with mine. “We’re good.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
hank
We finishthe dishes in the sink and Wren starts the dishwasher while I go grab a few blankets from the living room. When I come back in, she’s studying the bottles lining the wet bar next to the fridge.
“Want some more wine? Some of Hudson’s shitty beer?” I ask. Coming up behind her, I set my armload of blankets on the kitchen island.
She turns and smiles softly. “What are you having?”
My eyes scan the bottles and land on my favorite: Johnnie Walker Blue. She walks her fingers over a couple of other whiskeys, silently contemplating which one. I shake my head, and she continues with a little tip to her lips.
“This one.” She taps the top and grins over her shoulder at me. I am so lost for this woman, it's like she knows me without even asking.
