Page 116 of Chasing Olivia (Trace + Olivia 2)

“Who’s Katniss?” He questioned.

“You know, from The Hunger Games,” I stopped in front of him. “Surely you’ve heard of it.”

“Oh, yeah.” He smiled. “But I’m a lot cooler than Katniss.”

“And why is that?” Only Trace and I would argue over a fictional character. If there was an award for weirdest fight between a couple, we’d surely win.

“Just look at me,” he plucked at his shirt. “I’m way hotter.”

I glanced down at the muddy shore, fighting a smile. “Not as hot as Peeta.”

“Peeta is a pussy, I am a man,” he pointed to his chest. “If the Hunger Games were real, I could protect you…even with my bare hands.”

“Really, now?” I tilted my head. “Please, explain exactly how you would do that.”

“I’d snap their neck of course. But I’d also use my hands for more important things,” he grinned.

“Like what?”

“Well, first,” he stepped in front of me and bent his head, “I would take your face in my hands like this…” His hands came up to cup my cheeks. “Then I would lower my head like this…” His head came closer to mine. “And then, when I knew you were sufficiently breathless, I would graze my lips lightly against yours…” And he did. A small gasp escaped my lips and I shivered. “Then, when I knew you were good and ready I’d kiss you, and it would be the best kiss of your entire life.”

Before I could respond, he was kissing me. His tongue pressed against my lips and my mouth opened in response. My body curled against his and my hands pressed against his toned stomach. He didn’t seem to mind that he was getting wet. His hands left my cheeks and he grasped my waist, lifting me up so that I could wrap my legs around his waist. I clutched his stubbled cheeks between my hands and deepened the kiss. Salt from the ocean water clung to my lips, mingling with our kiss. I lightly nipped his bottom lip with my teeth and he growled low in his throat. The sound sent warmth straight to my belly. He gently lowered me down his body and kissed the end of my nose as he tucked a wet strand of hair behind my ear. His chest heaved with labored breaths.

“Woman,” he whispered, “you’ll be my undoing.”

“I think I could say the same for you,” my voice was as breathless as his. “That was some kiss.”

“I’m very skilled,” he murmured huskily, lowering his head to press his lips against my neck. My pulse jumped in response. He chuckled and bit the skin there.

“Ow!” I jumped, grabbing my neck. “That hurt!” I smacked his solid muscular chest. “Way to ruin the moment.”

“Oh, baby,” he gazed at me with lust-filled green eyes, “the moment isn’t over. It’s only beginning.”

With that, he tossed me over his shoulder once more and carried me into the house and into the bedroom.

I guessed I’d get the grand tour later…and I was perfectly okay with that.

I padded into the state-of-the-art kitchen and opened the refrigerator doors. My mouth dropped open as I marveled at all the food. It was fully stocked with anything you could possibly want.

“Trace!” I called. “Are you hungry?”

“Um, yeah,” he called back from the laundry room, “you helped me work up quite the appetite, woman.”

“I don’t know what to make,” I responded.

A moment later he stepped into the kitchen with a puzzled expression. “Is the fridge not stocked? It’s supposed to be.”

“Oh, it is,” I assured him. “There’s a lot to choose from.”

He peered into the refrigerator and pointed to a packet of hotdogs. “I’ll grill those. Why don’t you make some mac n’ cheese?”

“Sure, I can do that…do you mind telling me where everything is?” I motioned to the large kitchen. “If you leave me on my own it might take me a while.”

He chuckled, striding across the room and opening a door. “Macaroni will be in here and—” he opened a cabinet and pulled out a small pot, “—here’s this. Think you can find the sink?”

“You’re such an ass!” While my words weren’t very nice, I couldn’t keep the laugh from my voice.

Chuckling, he said, “You know you love me. I’ll finish with the laundry and start the grill.”

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