Page 107 of Love on the Byline

She nodded, not trusting her voice, and leaned into hiswarmth. He was solid and steady at her side, and she thought of what it mightbe like to have that all the time.

Could understand, suddenly, why Bran had called him toCalifornia.

Oliver Benjamin was a rock.

A sexy, brilliant, fiercely loyal pillar of everything goodin a person. She felt cheated, having missed out on him for so many years.

“What is that accent?” he asked, pointing with his chin atGary Oldman on the screen.

“No one knows,” she replied, closing her eyes. She let her headdrop back against his shoulder.

“You’re exhausted.”

“I’m okay.” She opened her eyes and found him gazing down ather, his expression open and unguarded.

It was so easy to read everything on his face, the longing,the lust, and the sweet, careful hesitancy.

She looked back at him and let him see, too.

He let out a soft breath that she breathed in, her brainscreaming kiss me even though she knew she needed to pull away.

“Blake...”

On screen, Plavalaguna began her operatic acrobatics, themusic pouring through the speakers around them.

Ollie tilted his head, his brow knitting slightly. “Ithink...the universe is conspiring to get us to kiss.”

She smiled. “I think you’re right.”

He searched her eyes. “Once wouldn’t be so bad. Would it?”

“Not bad at all,” she managed to say, her breath seesawingout of her lungs.

He cupped her cheek with a gentle hand and then held himselfvery still as she lifted her face to meet his.

“Just once.” She brushed her lips over his.

At first, his only response was a quick intake of breath,but then he groaned and pressed his mouth against hers.

His lips were soft and warm, and she felt a familiar heatbuilding up inside her. It had been too long since she’d been kissed like this,with such aching tenderness and hungry intensity.

She parted her lips, inviting him in, and he didn’t hesitate.His tongue swept into her mouth, tasting her, teasing her, and she whimpered.

Turning her head, she broke away and tried to catch her breath.

“God...” Ollie’s voice was hoarse with the same emotion andneed she felt buzzing underneath her skin.

“Yeah,” she replied, breathless as she met his eyes and wasblown away by the desire she saw there.

Without thinking, she rose to her knees and straddled hislegs.

His hands moved to her waist, guiding her even as he asked,“What are you doing?”

“No fucking clue,” she replied before taking his face intoher hands.

She tasted the salty popcorn but, beyond that, it was onlyOliver. She slid close and let him guide the kiss, drowning in the nearness ofhim, in the way his hands slid up and down her body—over her back, her ass, andher nape.

He wrapped an arm around her waist and hauled her close asshe spread her thighs, the unmistakable feel of him hard and ready for herbetween her legs. Instinctively, she rocked against him and the sound he madedrew an answering one from her.

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