Page 144 of Reeves

Her fingers closearound mine without hesitation, the grip firm and certain in a way that answers every question I’ve been circling since she stepped off her porch earlier.

Warmth moves up my arm and fills my entire body. I've been resisting the urge to touch her, to pull her into me, to press my lips on hers.

I want her so badly it hurts. And in this simple gesture, she's giving me permission.

She stands without letting go and pulls me with her, heading straight for the sliding glass door like this is already decided. I don’t stop to think about it. I don’t slow her down. I just follow.

The door slides open, and she steps through. I step inside after her, closing it behind us and flipping the lock out of habit. The click is startling in the sleeping house.

The den is dark and quiet, except for the under-counter lights coming from the kitchen and a single lamp beside the sofa. It'sthe kind of silence that makes you aware of every sound, every movement.

She keeps walking, tugging me with her. Not that I need any convincing to go anywhere she wants me to go with her.

My focus narrows to the nip of her fingers in mine and the way my body reacts before I can slow it down.

Charli never once looks back to see if I’m still there.

I follow her down the hallway, watching the movement of her shoulders, the way the fabric of that dress shifts against her as she walks, and I have to adjust my stride just to keep from crowding her, from closing the distance too soon.

We pass Benjy’s door, cracked just enough for the dim green nightlight to spill across the hallway floor. The slow rhythm of his breathing gives me pause, enough to register, not enough to slow me down.

Charli slows when she reaches her bedroom and keeps hold of my hand as she turns the handle. The door opens into a dark room, the only light coming from behind us, and she doesn’t step in right away.

I step in close instead.

She’s right there, close enough that I can see the dip of that dress at her back, the loose strands of her hair brushing the curve of her neck, and I’ve been trying not to touch her all night.

That ends here.

My hand comes up without thinking, finding her waist, pulling her back against me before she can think better of this.

“Charli.”

Her name comes out low as she looks up at me, steady and sure, and whatever question might have been there earlier is gone.

Her back hits the wood with a soft thud, and then my mouth is on hers.

The kiss isn’t gentle. Her mouth opens against mine rightaway, her breath warm against my skin. Her hands bunch in my shirt and drag me closer until my front hits hers, and there’s nowhere left to stand but inside her space.

I grip her hips to steady us, but it only pulls her tighter against me. Her body gives without hesitation, pressing in like she’s done fighting it.

My head tilts, my mouth moving harder on hers before I can check it. I’ve been holding this back since I drove up this afternoon, since she brushed against me at the fairgrounds and didn't pull away.

Her fingers tighten in my shirt, tugging me forward, and I follow without thinking. Her nails rake across my scalp, and I groan against her mouth. The sound tears out of me from somewhere low in my gut. She kisses me harder, her mouth taking the sound as it leaves me.

My hands slide up her sides, thumbs brushing the curve of her ribs through her thin dress. She arches into my hands, pressing closer instead of pulling away.

"Reeves."

My name breaks from her lips like a prayer and a curse wrapped together. I press closer, pinning her fully against the door, letting her know exactly what she does to me.

My hard dick grinds into her low belly.

Her hands move to the hem of my t-shirt. She lifts it slowly, leaving goosebumps on my skin. I grab the back of my shirt behind my neck and help her, pulling it over my head and throwing it to the side.

I can't wait any longer to have her against my naked body.

When her palms flatten against my chest, skin to skin, I let out an audible breath. I catch her wrists, pressing them back against the door on either side of her head.