Page 46 of View With Your Heart

I roll my eyes, but Gavin is already laughing. “We’ve been at this for hours,” he mutters to me before addressing Gee.

“It’s pasta your bedtime.”

Gee’s mouth falls open as Gavin beats him to the punchline, and Gavin nearly falls out of his seat laughing. I crack up as well as Gee’s been bested.

All through dinner Gavin has been respectful and physically distant, but when I walk him out to his car, he admits his weakness.

“God, I fucking want to kiss you, and it’s killing me not to,” he springs on me, and my insides flip flop. He steps close, brushing my hair around my ear and holding his hand on my neck. His thumb rubs over my pulse point, and I swallow. I want him to kiss me too, but I don’t want to keep giving him mixed signals any more than I want him to keep toying with my heart.

“Maybe just one kiss,” I tell him, thinking he’ll step in for a quick brush of my lips, but I should know better with Gavin. He takes his time to comb his fingers through my hair, brushing more strands behind my ear. Then his fingertips trail down my neck and under my chin. He strokes along my jaw and rubs the pad of his thumb across my lower lip. By the time he leans forward, I’m breathing heavier, desperate to taste him. He leans close but not quite touching yet. Breathing me in, he focuses his eyes on my mouth as his thumb swipes along the lower curve.

It feels like the universe is holding its breath. The moon is brighter. The stars shift. Crickets sing a song of seduction.

“You still taste the same to me,” he whispers. “But I’d love to know if you taste the same in other places.”

I gasp at the directness, and my open mouth gives him the invitation to close the distance. With his mouth against mine, the night explodes around me. His tongue undresses me, and my mouth melts under his. Wetness pools in other places, and I’m desperate to press against him, seek friction, and relieve the pressure that’s rebuilt triple-fold since Saturday evening. I want him to touch me again.

His mouth does all the touching, though, while his fingers hold my head. He takes and takes, drawing out the kiss until I want to scream for his hands to move to other places on my body. When he finally pulls away, I follow him, eager to keep our connection, and he chuckles softly. Keeping my eyes closed, I hum, savoring the kiss a little longer despite breaking apart.

“Wow,” he mutters.

“Uh-huh,” I groan as I slowly open my eyes.

“I figure if I only got one kiss, I should make it a good one,” he teases. Regardless of the dark night and the darkness of his eyes, they sparkle with mirth. He knows I’m turned on by him, attracted to him, but I fight the desire to lunge forward. I want to wrap my entire body around his, but rationale kicks in again.

“Gavin, I need to—”

The screen door squeaks open and slams back, and we both turn to find Theo exiting the house.

“Headed out again,” he mutters, keeping his head down.

“Where are you going?” I question, not wanting to make an issue of his social life but still curious.

“Just out,” he says, stopping without looking up at me.

“Theo?” I question, wondering what’s going on with him. He was quiet all through dinner, hardly addressing Gavin.

“She asked you a question, man,” Gavin finally interjects as Theo doesn’t answer me.

“You’re not my dad, man, so don’t.”

“Theo,” I gasp, stepping away from Gavin and turning more directly for my teenage nephew.

“That’s right, kid. I’m not your dad, so don’t be a prick.” Gavin’s message contains more.

“I’m not a kid,” Theo snaps back, and I’m wondering if something else is bothering him. Maybe something happened with his dad.

“Then don’t act like it,” Gavin snaps back, and I’m surprised at the tone he takes.

“Yeah, then don’t be a dick.”

“Hey,” Gavin and I say at the same time.

“Apologize,” I demand of Theo. This isn’t like him.

“Sorry,” Theo says, but it’s more a snort. “Can I go now?”

“You still haven’t said where?” I remind him.