Page 18 of Vow

There was no hesitance in his kiss, and no wariness. Like he knew the moment his lips touched hers, she was going to respond just how he wanted her to. His mouth moved over hers in such a familiar way that she couldn’t help herself but kiss him back. A deep, aching kiss that left her lips tingling, and her body weaker than ever.

He could own her with a kiss.

He took her rationale away.

Worries, anger, and control … all gone.

All he needed was a fucking kiss.

There was a part of her that wanted to step back from him, and reevaluate. She knew that was the smart part of her brain whispering through the haze of nostalgia and need. It was the slip of his hand curving around the back of her neck to pull her impossibly closer that silenced the little voice.

Haven reached back for him—her hands slipping over his naked chest to get more of his skin on hers. His tongue teased hers; a silent promise if there ever was one. She always thought he kissed a lot like he fucked. Deep, and fast, and a little wild. Like he couldn’t get enough, but he was determined to get what he wanted, regardless.

And when he kissed her like that, then all of her ability to think clearly was quickly lost. Like now.

All she could focus on was him, and the way his hand tightened on her neck. His growing erection pressed against her body which only served to make her wet. She could already feel that dampness in her panties.

Andino pulled away from her mouth with a ragged breath. Those green eyes of his flashed with something dark and wild. “Upstairs, then?”

How simple that question was.

It should be an easy no from her.

Let this go.

Leave it alone.

Haven was still humming—still high from his kiss, and the promise of what was yet to come. Oh, she knew what would be coming. And that was a large part of the reason why she was quick to nod and say, “Yeah, upstairs.”

Maybe if she gave it one last go—did this whole fucking dance with him one more time—she would be able to walk away. It’d be done; her need sated, even if her heart was still broken. She could feed the selfish part of her today, and mend the broken bits tomorrow.

That seemed like a good plan.

Stupid, but good.

Andino’s hand pressed against her neck, and Haven moved at his urging. “Ladies first,” he said.

She didn’t need him to direct her through his house. She knew exactly where she was going, and what was going to happen once she got there. As she passed by the kitchen, a familiar pit bull came out to greet her in the hallway. Haven took a second to bend down, and say hello to Snaps. A thickness grew in her throat the longer she ran her fingertips through the dog’s short coat.

“Hey, buddy,” she whispered.

Snaps’ stubby tail wagged hard. He licked the palm of her hand, and then pressed the very top of his head against her arm. His silent hello. She felt like it also sounded like, I miss you.

God, she missed him, too.

“You be good, huh?” she told him. “I’ll give you a treat before I leave.”

Because she would be leaving.

She simply didn’t know when.

Andino cleared his throat, clearly not missing her statement to his dog. She didn’t acknowledge his noise, instead saying a goodbye to Snaps before standing again. The dog didn’t follow them upstairs, but that wasn’t a surprise. Snaps was well trained, and knew to stay unless he was asked to follow.

Haven shivered when Andino’s hand landed on the small of her back. He moved in close behind her as she stepped inside his room—just over the cusp of no return, she thought. His bed was still the same. Large, four-poster, with black sheets, and red pillows. She tipped her head to the side when his lips skimmed the back of her neck, and his hands drifted over her sides.

“I’m not supposed to be doing anything strenuous,” Andino murmured against her skin. Well, damn. She hadn’t even thought of that. “But I really don’t give a fuck right now.”

His teeth grazed her earlobe while his hands slipped around her front. One skipped beneath her shirt, and higher to cup her breast through the lace bralette she wore. He was quick to push the bralette down to get his thumb and forefinger on her nipple. His fingers tweaked the hardened bud until she felt a jolt of heat shoot straight down to her pussy.