Page 46 of The Sweetness of Life

“It’s true and you know it.” I take a step toward her, shrinking the distance.

“Yeah, a lot of good that did me. Hands down the worst blind date ever.” A flush races up her neck and into her cheeks. She’s so angry.

“I’ll admit I was not myself that night. For what it’s worth . . . I’m sorry.” Nothing like eating a huge heaping of crow.

Her eyes grow large. “That night? What about the day I got here, the day of the photo shoot, or this morning . . . were you not yourself those times, either? Because I’ve been here for a week and it seems being a dick to me is what’s most natural.”

I cringe at her words. She’s right, and I hate it.

“I didn’t mean for this morning to go down like it did. I wasn’t intentionally trying to ignore you. One minute we were playing football then the next you were there, and . . .” I turn my head away from her.

“And what?” she asks, annoyed.

My eyes lock back on hers. “I saw the way James looked at you.”

“How did he look me?” She tilts her head, eyebrows raised.

“Interested.” The word slithers out through my teeth.

She rolls her eyes and shakes her head as if this answer isn’t enough for her. Not for the first time, I wish I knew what she was thinking. I started this conversation, but now, I just want it to be over.

Taking a deep breath, I rub my hand over my face and through my hair. Her eyes track my movements as I rub the back of my neck.

“I told you, the issues I have are mine, not yours . . . and believe it or not, I am trying. I’m sorry about this morning.”

Her mouth tips up at the corner. “Say it again.” Her eyes blaze in victory, and the tension around her face and shoulders wanes as she takes a step forward.

Inches separate us. We’re so close but not close enough, and her nearness is making me ache in places I didn’t know could.

When I lick my lips, her eyes drop to my mouth, and mine do the same. I’m obsessed with how full, soft, and sweet hers tasted against mine. Seconds tick by as the tension around us grows thicker and heavier. My stare slowly crawls back up her face and a rush of air leaves me at the depth of fire in her eyes.

“I’m sorry,” I finally say, giving her what she wants before taking what I need as my mouth slams down on hers.

The turmoil I’ve been feeling all day subsides instantly. Why I’ve let this girl dig her way so far under my skin, I don’t know, but being locked to her, I feel like I can breathe for the first time since last night.

Angling my head to get even more, she matches me move for move. Damn, she tastes so good, and this kiss . . . it’s deep, wet, and there’s an uncontrolled urgency fueling us. I can’t get enough of her, and she can’t get enough of me.

I bend, slide my hands around the back of her thighs, and pick her up. Her legs wrap around my waist and squeeze, pressing us together as her arms drape over my shoulders.

Warmth, honey, and her heartbeat hit me all at once. I can feel it pounding through her chest and into mine, and it forces mine to match hers beat for beat. I’m addicted to this feeling; I’m pretty sure I’ve become addicted to her.

Walking us over to the bed, I lay her down and lean over, keeping her mouth fused to mine. Damn she feels even better underneath me than she tastes.

Rocking her hips against mine, she slides her hands down my back and grabs my waist, fingers slipping underneath my shirt and onto my skin. Her touch feels incredible and electric; it sends tremors straight through me.

Needing to be closer—to feel more—one hand slides up the back of her thigh and under her tiny little skirt to rest on her hipbone. The other falls next to her head as I pull back to hold myself up. My heart crashes into my chest and at least a minute goes by, neither of us saying anything. We’re each watching to see what the other is going to do, the sound of our breaths the only disturbance between us.

Leaning forward, I kiss the corner of her mouth and drag my lips across hers, drawing the swell of her bottom lip between my teeth. She sucks in air, and I cover her mouth with mine to take it away from her. Her fingers dig into my back, and her tongue dances with mine.

“I shouldn’t want this,” she says as my lips move from her mouth to her neck, licking the sweetness from her skin. I shouldn’t want this, either, but damn if I do. Her back arches, and her chest pushes into me. My hand slips over the smoothness of her hipbone and around to her ass. Tilting her, I angle to better align the fit of me against her. She moans into my shoulder as I push forward, and I groan from the heat that’s wrapping around me.

“Why do you drive me so crazy?” I whisper, my words leaving a trail of goose bumps on her skin. Her hair is spread out across the bed, her lips are plump from the assault they were given, and her cheeks are flushed with desire. My heart trips in my chest.

Sliding my hand back around her hip, my thumb slips under her lace panties and traces the edge between her legs. She’s smooth and perfect. Every muscle in my stomach tightens in anticipation and want. This girl is the sweetest torture.

Somewhere in the house, a door slams, and Shelby tenses. I had forgotten anyone else was here.

“We should go back out there,” she says, pushing on me to move as her eyes skip to the door and back to mine.