Page 69 of Always Yours

“Stretch?”

“Yes, Janie, because if I’m gonna be your first kiss, I am going to ruin you for every man who comes after me, and I need to make sure I’m ready.”

Her breath catches, but then the most delicious grin spreads across those lips. “Don’t make me wait too long.”

I drop my mouth to hers, but before contact is made, I whisper against her lips, “I couldn’t if I tried.”

Then I take her mouth with mine, her warm lips making me hard everywhere. I run my tongue along her lips, which I know may be a lot since this is her first time, but I can’t control myself. When she moans into my mouth, pressing her hips to mine, and opens her mouth for me, I know I’m in trouble.

Big fucking trouble.

twenty-three

Austen

I remember the first time I ate frosting-covered pancakes.

It was the breakfast Peepaw took me to when he picked me up on the side of the highway. I hadn’t eaten in four days because I’d bitten someone when they forced themselves on me. In my defense, I’d told them I wouldn’t give them what they wanted, and when he held my head in place against my will, I took matters into my own hands. Or my own mouth. In doing so, I was beaten and then denied food. I will never forget when Peepaw’s eyes fell on me, the pain, the sorrow, the guilt that filled his features. The only thing he could say was, “You need some frosting-covered pancakes, and I’m going to make sure there are extra sprinkles on them.”

The way the sugar exploded on my tongue and completely recharged me, healed me from all the shit I had gone through, is exactly how I feel as Dimitri’s lips press into mine. The only thing different this time is the need that swirls deep between my thighs. How my center pulses for him and how I feel as if I am going to explode at any second. He tastes like something sweet, maybe the wine he was drinking. His lips are so full, so warm, and his mustache tickles my nose, but I love it. I welcome it. I am moving my hands up his arms and onto his face, cupping his firm jaw as he devours my mouth. His tongue sweeps along mine, and I thank all the romance authors in the world for mapping out in words how to do this. I move my tongue with his, savoring his taste. A moan escapes me, wanting, needing more, and I press my hips to his. He slides his hands down the middle of my back, pressing me closer, and I can feel every single inch of him through his pants and my dress.

The heat coming off him is so overwhelming, but instead of freaking out, I will myself to give in to the pleasure. He wraps his arms around me tighter, squeezing me and lifting me off my feet. My hands go to his shoulders for support, but I don’t need it. He has me. Dimitri pulls back, just a whisper away, breathing hard as he kisses my lips softly, once, twice, then a third time. He presses his forehead to mine as I move my arms around his neck, holding him close to me. His eyes are still shut as he drags in deep, heavy breaths. Our hearts are beating so damn hard, I’m unsure whose is beating the hardest and loudest.

When I kiss his nose, he squeezes me, a ragged breath leaving his lips before he whispers, “I have wanted to do that since you fell off the treadmill.”

I smile against his lips. “For me, it was when you snatched the stick out of my hand.”

He grins. “See, me too, but I didn’t want to seem weird since you were so violent that night.”

“So, I’m weird and violent?”

“Absolutely,” he teases, kissing my top lip. “But I like that about you.”

My face hurts, I’m smiling so hard. I run my fingers along his lips and his mustache, loving the feel of him against my fingertips. “I like a lot of things about you.”

“I thought you hated me?”

“I do.”

He grins. “Thin line between love and hate is what I’ve always been told.”

The phrase leaves me breathless as I nod. “So, what happens next?”

His eyes search mine. “I should probably put you down.”

“Probably.”

“Though, I don’t want to.”

“I don’t either.” I squeeze my arms around his neck, pressing my breasts into his chest. “But I meant in general. Like, now that we’ve kissed, what happens next?”

“Whatever you want, but I really want to take you to the dance floor.” I make a face, and he grins. “Oh, we’re totally dancing.”

“I’m gonna look stupid.”

“Janie, I’m not just a pretty face. I can move my hips,” he taunts.

I sputter with laughter, because all I see is him humping the ice, at which he captures my lips with his again. I lean into him as I let my eyes fall shut, kissing him eagerly. He slides his hands up my back, threading his fingers into my hair as he holds me close. I’m the one to pull back since I can’t breathe, but he doesn’t allow me to get far. “You’re so full of yourself.”

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