He kissed me tenderly at first, his soft lips grazing mine. My hands slid up his chest and behind his neck, and as I gently pulled him closer, his kiss grew more and more fervent.
When I finally broke our kiss, we were both breathless. He kissed the top of my head, wrapping me in his arms. “I can’t tell you how bad I’ve been wanting to do that.”
Chapter 16
Jax
The next morning, the soundof a soft rain tapping against Liv’s bedroom window caused me to stir. I’d fallen asleep with her in my arms and woke with her body still folded into mine.
After we’d put out the bonfire and turned off the lights outside, we’d kissed our way back to her bedroom where I’d kissed her over and over and over again.
I didn’t try to push it further, though I definitely wanted to. I wantedher. I wanted to be close to her, but I also knew that her allowing herself to feel what she felt for me was a huge step—one I didn’t take for granted. I knew she was still fighting with feelings of not being good enough, though it killed me that she ever felt anything less than perfect.
She’d been with her ex for nearly half her life. I knew it would take a while for all her walls to come down, and I was okay with that because I was in it for the long haul. I just had to show her.
I heard her soft sigh, and she shifted slightly, causing the covers to fall so her shoulder was exposed. The strap on her tank top had slipped down, so I returned it to where it belonged. I tightened my arms around her, kissing her shoulder blade. “Good morning,” I murmured in her ear. I felt her body respond as she turned toward me, kissing me lightly.
“It’s really unfair you know.” Her voice was still raspy with sleep.
“What is?” I asked, playing with a piece of her silky hair.
“That you actually wake up looking like this.” She laughed, wrapping herself around me and nestling her head into my chest.
“Speak for yourself.” I gently rubbed my fingertips along her bare arm and kissed her forehead. “You’re beautiful, Liv. You’re breathtaking.”
Her fingers traced circles along my bare chest sending shivers all throughout my body. “I want to lay here with you all day.”
“That sounds like the perfect rainy Sunday to me.”
“How much longer do you have before you have to go back out on the road?”
“We leave Tuesday morning.” I groaned at the thought of having to leave her. “It’s only for a month, and then we’re off for the holidays. We may end up with a couple of appearances we have to make, but nothing crazy. I don’t want to leave you.”
“I know,” she said softly, “but I’ll still be here when you get back.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.” She lifted her head off my shoulder, planting a kiss firmly on my lips. “And I can come to visit you in Louisville too.”
“There’s nothing for me back in Louisville but an apartment that, for the most part, collects dust,” I insisted. “What I want is right here in Nashville. I’ll be coming back here, but I don’t have to stay here if that’s too much too soon. I can always get a hotel room.”
“I want you here.” Her hand found mine, and she intertwined our fingers.
My heart caught in my throat.I want you here.“I’ve got to say, I love hearing you say that.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” I replied. “I was so nervous last night, Liv. When I told you how I felt, I thought it might push you away.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I know I haven’t made this easy on you.”
I rolled over so that I hovered over her. “You havenothingto apologize for, baby. Nothing. I get why you’ve been scared, but I want to show you I think you’re fucking perfect, Olivia Sinclair.”
“Speak for yourself.” She pulled my face down to hers and kissed me slow and deep. “How about I make us some breakfast?”
“How about you let me do the cooking since it’s technically still your birthday weekend?” I trailed a string of kisses along her jawline before my lips found hers again.
“You’re spoiling me already.” Her emerald green eyes glowed as she chewed on her bottom lip. I felt myself coming undone.
