She wrinkled her nose. “I prefer to enjoy the beauty of nature from behind a pane of glass, i.e., inside,” she explained. “And I’m a beauty girl. I like looking my best, even if I’m just running to the grocery store.”
I cupped her face in my palm, stroking my thumb over the natural pink tinge of her full lips, the long lashes framing her green eyes, and the light dusting of freckles bridging her nose that were covered with makeup most of the time.
“So, are you saying that I’m the only one that gets to see you like this?” I murmured.
She bit her lip and nodded, her eyes wide with open vulnerability.
I dipped in to press my lips to hers in a chaste kiss. “That’s a privilege I’ll live to earn, ladybug. And no hiking, noted.” I pulled back to grin at her.
After I’d miraculously managed to let her out of my grasp to go get dressed and move my bike, she’d done her hair and makeup, and we now stood at her kitchen counter side by side while I attempted to help with the pie.
“You have to keep the beaters in the liquid,” she laughed as I tried and failed to whip the egg whites without making a mess. “Here, let me.” She stepped in front of me, taking over the whipping while I braced my hands on either side of her on the counter, her back pressed to my front.
She stilled for a moment as I breathed in the strawberry scent of her hair. It was exquisite torture being this close to her, and I was gratified by her quickened breathing telling me I wasn’t alone.
I stepped in close and turned her in my arms, looking down at her lips like a man starved as I leaned in to take her mouth.
I groaned as her taste exploded on my tongue, my hands moving to her hips and lifting her onto the counter, pressing in between her legs.
Her answering groan spurred me on as we sought to devour each other, her lower lip a perfect fit between my teeth. I gripped the back of her head, her thick hair twined between my fingers as her legs hooked around my waist, pulling me into her.
I’d never been so content to just kiss a woman before, never wanted to simply explore her mouth, her taste, her change of breath. But with Grace, if I could survive off her mouth alone, I would.
When the oven dinged an indeterminate amount of time later, indicating it was preheated, I pulled away, relishing the dazed look on her face. Her full lips were swollen from my mouth, her cheeks suffused with color that had nothing to do with makeup and everything to do with me.
“Better put the pie in,” she explained breathlessly. I reluctantly released her as she slid off the counter to slide the pie into the oven. “That’ll have to bake for a while. How about a movie? You should be taking it easy anyway.” Her gaze traveled to the wound covered by my black tee.
“I’m fine,” I assured her. “What are we watching?” I prompted as we got settled on her couch. I’d been disappointed to discover she didn’t have a TV in her bedroom, though maybe that was for the best.
She shrugged. “I have way too many streaming subscriptions, so pretty much anything you want.”
We settled on a Formula 1 movie, and I pulled her close, wrapping my arm around her. Despite my heart pounding at her closeness, her gentle weight felt like the most natural thing in the world.
Chapter 8
GRACE
“We should probably eat something besides pie,” I murmured as I lay on Ruston’s good side, his fingers trailing through my hair. We’d been lying on the couch for hours, talking, binging Netflix, and making out like teenagers. We’d both even dozed for a little while, cuddled together.
In short, it had been the very best of days.
His low chuckle rumbled under my ear. “Yeah. How about that date I promised you?”
I raised my head to look at him. “You should still be resting, honey.”
He squeezed my hips, letting out a low groan. “You callin’ me honey with that sexy as hell little rasp in your voice—rest is the last thing on my mind.”
I gasped as he spun us on the couch, pressing in between my legs.
“That feel like I need to rest?” he demanded as he pressed his hardness into me.
“No,” I gasped, already soaked and ready for him. The last several hours had been a slow burn, and my body was ready to ignite.
He slid my jeans off, along with my panties, unzipped his jeans, and was inside me before I could catch my next breath.
“You’re so wet,” he growled as he took my mouth in a passionate kiss, swiveling his hips, hitting the exact right angle guaranteed to have me going off in record time.
I clung to his shoulders, urging him on. He took me so hard, the couch moved beneath us, sliding across the hardwood floor.
