Page 88 of Brighter Together

I have spent months noticing everything about this woman. The way she twists her hair when she is thinking. The way she eats chocolate when she is stressed. The way she brightens the entire office while pretending my grumpiness doesn’t bother her.

I am not going to let her stand here wondering whether I like what I see.

I cross the room quickly, pulling my own T-shirt over my head on the way.

I barely register where it lands.

My hands settle around her waist.

“You have absolutely nothing to be nervous about,” I say softly.

“I wasn’t nervous.”

I raise an eyebrow.

“A little,” she admits.

I kiss her.

Her palms spread across my bare chest.

She explores slowly, fingertips moving over muscle and skin as though she has wanted to do exactly this for a very long time.

Maybe she has.

My stomach tightens when her nails scrape lightly over me.

“Fuck, Ella.”

She smiles against my mouth. “I like that.”

“What?” I ask.

“Making you swear.”

“You’re going to have a fantastic night.”

She laughs.

The sound is so unexpected in the middle of all this heat that I grin too.

I wrap an arm around her waist and lift her.

“Tommy!”

She squeals as I carry her the few steps to the bed and drop her onto the mattress.

Ella bounces once and bursts out laughing.

I stand there looking at her.

Hair everywhere. Green lace. Face flushed. Laughing so hard she has to cover her mouth.

My heart beats faster and I need to take a deep breath.

This is the moment that will stay with me.

Not the lingerie.