“Also, I’m not sure what to do next. That’s why I wanted to talk to you. I wanted to provide you with all the information to allow us to make the best choice. So that we’re both okay with the next course of action. I’m worried that my reasons for keeping you are entirely selfish so I want to make sure you decide what we do next.”
It was like a giant bag of down feathers burst inside me. Instead of answering I wrapped my arms around him. I brought my lips to his and showed him what I thought of his plan to talk to me first.
I thought it was clucking brilliant.
Chapter 20
Clifford
Idon’t think I even realized how badly I needed to kiss Suzie until her lips were on mine. It was a physical release of tension in my muscles. I’d been twisting and squeezing tighter and tighter since the moment I met her and now everything released. Her lips were even softer than the brief pecks she’d given me. Her smell was all-encompassing and hypnotic and sweet and, God, her body against mine…I couldn’t even think straight.
I had been surprised, as always, by her actions. That was Suzie for me. Surprising.
It wasn’t until she started to move away, her body stiffening, that I realized I had been too stunned to move. I had to remedy that.
My arms enclosed her, one hand reaching up to still her head from its retreat, the other holding the small of her back more firmly. I tilted my head to deepen the kiss. I needed more. I explored and shared and gave and took all with my tongue and lips.
She moaned. It undid me. My hands itched with the need to find relief on her body. I explored her curves. I squeezed a healthy handful of her ass and caught her surprised gasp with my mouth. I pushed her hair back and shirt down to kiss her neck and shoulder.
The forest was around us, the light fading, but I couldn’t let go of the salty-sweet flavor of her. Her hands seemed equally unable to be still because they rubbed over my chest, down my shoulders to squeeze my biceps. I flexed her harder to me, preening over the compliment of my muscles and not giving a shit about how ridiculous I was in the moment.
I was lost in her. There was only right now. Right, wrong, ethical could all go to hell. This was pure, and the closest thing to a religious experience.
“Ford,” she groaned my name with her head thrown back.
I nipped and kissed, and eventually, found a fraction of a brain cell to stop. Eventually. I slowed and she did too. We pulled back to blink at each other in stunned shock.
“Wow.” Her word was a laugh that sounded like awe.
“I agree.”
“Okay.” She blinked a few times and took a deep breath. “Wow.”
“Yes. Now that that’s taken care of...” I swallowed with difficulty.
Her fingertips were exploring her lips as though they had an explanation of what just happened. It was…distracting. Her eyes were lit from within and hard to look away from.
“Glad we got that out of our systems.” She nodded seriously. She added, “We should make a plan.”
“I agree.” I nodded, going for serious composure. I hadn't gotten anything out of my system. I had just introduced my system to a stimulation it had never known the likes of before, and it craved a repeat. Even my hands, which should have been resting safely at my side, still held her, albeit not so intimately.
“Stop smiling. I’m trying to think,” she said.
I sucked in my lips but the smile wouldn’t be wiped away. “Well, stop your eyes from beaming. Then maybe we can get somewhere.”
She laughed and shook her head, blushing as she turned her gaze toward the ground. I made Suzie Samuels blush.
“Something you should know about me. It’s critical that I understand cause and effect. I’m known to fixate sometimes until I understand fully why a certain behavior produces particular responses.”
Her dark brows furrowed. “Okay. Thanks for sharing.”
I stepped closer again and found my hands rubbing up and down her arms beyond my control. “That’s why it’s imperative for me to understand what I said that caused that reaction in you.” Understanding dawned; a slow smirk spread. “Not that I’m complaining,” I added quickly.
“I didn’t think you were. Though if anyone were to kiss me like I’m going to war and then complain, it would be you.” She softened the tease with a touch to my nose. She flushed a little more. “It’s silly and…” she paused for the right word. “Impetuous?”
I nodded with a smile. That woman was a sponge for knowledge. “There’s little about you that’s not impetuous. I envy that about you.”
“Short Fuse has always felt like an insult to me.”
