Page 16 of Heart Set on You

I swirl the red around in my glass, hoping she’ll expand.

“Really,” she says. “I wouldn’t bother telling you something that wasn’t true.”

Fuck. Why does everything this girl says turn me on? My skin is crackling with lust. I am so fucking attracted to her. “I like that about you. I hope you will always tell me what’s on your mind.”

“My gran tells me my ability to open myself up to people is both a blessing and a curse.”

I can’t help but smile. “I’d go with the former. Not many people can be that honest. You seem to wear your heart on your sleeve and it’s sexy.”

“That’s a nice thing to say,” she says shyly. “Now, it’s your turn to divulge something.”

“Okay,” I say, my eyes focused on her green irises capturing her attention. “I know I said we could take it slow, but I don’t really want to.”

I swallow, hoping I haven’t made her uncomfortable. “I mean, I can and I will take things slow, but it doesn’t mean I want to. There’s something about you that makes me light-headed. I like talking to you. You’re down-to-earth and funny. And I think you’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. I mean it, Rylee. I wouldn’t bother telling you something that wasn’t true,” I say, using the same words she just spoke to me.

She smiles and shakes her head slightly. “You’re just not used to girls like me who live regular lives. I’m sure I’m interesting now, but that will fade.”

“I don’t think it will.”

She just stares at me, her eyes a little hopeful but mostly cautious. I love it when her eyes are on mine, even if they’re not looking at me with absolute certainty. I’m not sure how I can convince her that she means something to me.

“I appreciate your optimism.”

I take a breath. “Does that mean you’ll go out with me again?”

“Don’t push your luck,” she says with a devastatingly beautiful smile, before taking the last bite of the cake and licking her fork clean. Lucky fork.

“I’ll wear you down,” I tease and I don’t think the innuendo is lost on either one of us. I watch her cheeks flush pink.

Tonight has felt good. Being with her is fun, easy and a total turn-on. She’s beautiful and captivating and that combo is enough to keep any man interested, wanting to know more. And I do. I want to know everything there is to know about Rylee Brookes. I want more time with her, more dates. I want to know what makes her tick.

Eventually plates are cleared, and the date is over way too soon. I pay the bill and our driver takes us back to her hotel. I walk her to her room to say goodnight, not expecting anything more than that. My God, I would love a hell of a lot more, but I can be patient.

She opens her door, leaning against the doorway to stop it from closing.

“I should go to bed. We both have an early call time tomorrow morning,” she says, fiddling with her key card in her hand. “Thank you for tonight, Miles. I had a really good time.”

I try to think of something, anything to say, of some way to extend the night, but I come up blank. Between the smell of her perfume in the air and the overwhelming desire to touch her, I can barely think straight. So I settle for, “I had a great time with you too.”

She’s looking up at me with her beautiful face and big, green eyes and she still hasn’t moved from her position against the door. I realize now how close I am to her. I can’t take it one second longer. There seems to be an electrical current running between the two of us, an undeniable attraction. Without thinking, I lift her face with my finger under her chin so that her eyes find mine. Her gaze hazy like my mind feels, swimming in lust. I want to cover her lips with mine but instead I leaning forward, dusting my mouth over the edge of her jaw. Then softly kiss her right below, on her neck. Soft, lazy kisses while my fingers find the back of her neck. She tilts her neck to the side just slightly, granting me access, giving me permission to keep doing what I’m doing. She whimpers as my fingertips find the groove at the back of her neck. The sound drives me crazy.

“You should stop touching me like that,” she murmurs as I run my fingers down the back of her neck. Her gaze roams over me, and the longing in her eyes is definitely not just my imagination. We are both drowning in lust.

I want more of whatever this feeling is.

“Is that what you really want? For me to stop doing this?” I say in a low voice, continuing to trace my finger in the opposite direction, back up her neck and towards her ear.

“I-“ her voice trails off as my mouth kisses the long, slender column of her neck then traces over the edge of her ear.

She grips my hips with her hands while I back her into her room. The door falls closed, and I turn her and press her back against it. Even in my blissed-out state, I know I don’t want an audience for this goodnight kiss.

“I’ve wanted to touch you since the moment I saw you. You have no idea what you do to me.” My lips are so close to her ear, my breath against the flesh of her ear lobe. “Tell me you wanted this too.”

“Miles. I-“ Her head tips back against the door and her breath catches. I watch her eyes close shut as my mouth sucks on the soft skin just behind her ear. I’m taking my time, kissing her neck slowly and carefully until I make it to her mouth, where I’m aching to be. She shivers.

Arousal takes hold of me, making me want more. I need her mouth. I need to taste her. I want my hands all over her body. I moan under my breath, needing to touch her more.

“Ryls, you’re killing me. I want to kiss you. So if-”

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