“Since I moved back?”
“Yes,” I rasped. “Two years. I’ve wanted you for two years.”
I leaned forward and sat the bag of pastries on her coffee table, and then slowly slid to the floor, kneeling in front of her so that we were at the same eye level. She leaned past me and put her coffee down, and then stayed perched forward, her eyes searching mine.
“What has taken you so long?” she whispered. “I’ve been losing it, Mateo. For so long. I swore you only thought of me as?—”
“Avery, you are my friend. But, I do not think of you asjusta friend,” I said. “Or a sister. Nothing like that. I’ve never felt that way. But Austin and Dallas being so overprotective always made me worried that if I tried something and it didn’t work out, it would make our lives harder.”
“It would.”
I swallowed hard, searching her eyes. Her lashes were so long they cast shadows down her soft cheeks. I traced the curves of her face with my gaze, drinking her in for the first time without hiding it.
“Mateo,” she whispered. “Isthishow you’ve been looking at me?”
I nodded. “Every time you’re lookin’ the other way.”
“Oh.” Her eyes dropped to my lips. “I think I want to have the rest of this conversation later.”
Oof. My heart dropped and I started to get up, but her fingers curled into my shirt.
“I didn’t mean for you to get up,” she said. “I just meant that I want to do more than talk.”
It took a second for my brain to catch up with what she meant. I stared for a moment, and then my gaze dropped to her lips. “If I kiss you . . .”
“Then there’s no going back.”
Was I really going to do this? I’d dreamt about it for so long that this moment felt surreal.
Fuck it.
I slowly stood up and held out my hand. Her palm was soft against mine as I pulled her to her feet, and led her around the couch.
“What are you doing?—”
I tangled my fingers in her hair and backed her against the wall, my cock straining against my jeans. Avery whimpered as her head tipped back, her lips parting as I leaned in. A breath of space stood between us, my entire body craving her.
“I’ve been thinking about kissing you for so long,” I whispered. “So fucking long, Avery.”
“I’ve thought about it so many times I’ve lost count,” she rasped. “Kiss me.Please.”
I tightened my grip on her hair just enough to keep her from closing the gap. Slowly, I leaned in and brushed my mouth against hers.
God, she was sweet. Just as sweet as I’d imagined. Her arms wound around my neck, a soft grunt leaving me as our kiss deepened. I nudged my knee between her legs, parting them as our tongues met.
My head spun as her palms cupped my face. We broke the kiss, my eyes shuttering as I inhaled her scent.
“Come to my room,” she murmured, rubbing gentle circles with her thumbs along my cheeks. “To my bed.”
“The sun is almost up,” I murmured. “My truck is in your driveway.”
“Then let’s go ditch it at your place and I’ll bring you back. I want you. All morning, every morning.”
I kissed her again and smiled, breathless as I pulled away. “Every day?”
“Every afternoon.”
“Every night.”
