Page 113 of That Rush

“By you in my parents’ kitchen.”

The amusement in her expression softens.

I take the plates from her and put them away, then catch her hand before she can reach for anything else.

“Thank you for coming tonight.”

“You thanked me outside.”

“That was for accepting the invitation.” I draw her closer. “This is for staying after Adrienne attempted to give you voting rights.”

“I survived.”

“You did better than survive.”

“I like them.” She slides her hands over my chest. “Your family makes more sense now.”

“That sounds ominous.”

“It explains why you treat love like a group project.”

I narrow my eyes at the accuracy. “I protected you from the group.”

“You did.” Her fingers curl into my shirt. “I noticed.”

“Wanting you here and deciding for you are separate things. I’m learning the difference.”

Her gaze holds mine. “You’re getting very good at saying the right thing.”

“I’m better at showing you.”

“I’ve noticed that too.”

I kiss her with one hand at her waist and the other cupping the side of her neck. Paige rises into me immediately, opening beneath my mouth as I back her against the counter.

The kiss deepens, turning desperate.

Her fingers slide into my hair, and her tongue meets mine with enough intent to erase that my family is twenty feet away. I press in between her thighs, my hand tightening on her hip.

Paige bites my lower lip.

“Careful,” I murmur.

“Why?”

“Because I have to walk back into that living room.”

Her smile brushes my mouth. “Sounds like a personal problem.”

She kisses me again, slower this time, then drags one hand down my stomach. A sharp, immediate heat coils in my gut at her touch.

“Paige.”

“What?” Her fingertips skim the top of my belt. “You said you were better at showing me.”

I catch her wrist, stilling her hand on my belt. Her eyes darken.

“You want me to show you here?”