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“Yes, please.”
She wasn’t drinking wine tonight. It had been two weeks since the condom incident. She’d been so scared that night. I’d wanted to take away her fears any way I could. She’d seemed to relax after our conversation, but a part of me was still wondering if she’d been so terrified because she didn’t see this going where I did. I’d been thinking about the possibility that Paige could be pregnant... a lot. I wouldn’t admit it out loud, but a part of me was hoping the odds would work out. Was it crazy? Maybe. But so were my feelings for Paige. Intense and wild.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Paige
I was pushing my luck. I knew it, but I couldn’t stop anyway. Greg had asked me to drop the education project, but I was still aggressively following every last lead. I just couldn’t bring myself to give up. Not yet. I wanted to exhaust every possibility before shelving the project. Which was why I was working on a fine Saturday. Yesterday, I’d slept like the dead after Friday dinner and woken up energized. Will had some work to do as well, so I thought I’d put the time to good use. I was at my usual coffee shop in Venice.
At six o’clock, just as I shut my laptop, a shadow appeared on my table. I could make out the outline of a tall, muscly man. I swore to God, if another surfer annoyed me, I’d take drastic measures.
It was Will.
He was blocking the sun with his frame. Oh my, that frame. With the sun forming a halo around him, he looked even more handsome than usual. His skin seemed golden, and even his unruly hair appeared dark blond. He was wearing a black T-shirt that fit snugly over his broad chest. Yum... those pecs were just what the doctor ordered. He was carrying a backpack on one shoulder.
“Well, hello there, hunky detective. You didn’t tell me you were coming.” I’d texted him to let him know where I was, but he hadn’t replied.
“Wanted to surprise you.”
Will’s gaze roamed over my body, and despite my knee-length skirt, I felt naked. He placed the backpack on the floor, then leaned in for a kiss.
Oh, la la. This wasn’t just your run-of-the mill good evening kiss. Will tilted my head up, splaying his hand across the side of my face. His thumb pressed on my cheek; his other fingers reached my ear and hairline. His tongue entwined with mine, and the man kissed me until I felt as if my panties were on fire. My bra too. I was burning for him. Everything blurred except for Will Connor—the taste of his mouth, the feel of his skin against mine. I forgot where we were for a split second, but then I remembered with a jolt.
“Will, remember the rules about kissing in public?” I whispered.
He dragged his forefinger from the tip of my nose down to my lips. “Remember what I said about rules?” he countered. “Is this making you hot and bothered?”
“You know it does.”
“I like hearing it.” He brought his mouth to my ear. “Feeling it.”
His hand moved to my thigh. I pushed it away half-heartedly because I loved his touch. But it was so scorching hot that I was at risk of forgetting all about decency. Will pulled back a notch, trapping me in his gaze. Yep, that hot look wasn’t steering me on the path to Decentville. Sinnerland was looking more and more appealing. He kissed me again, hotter than before, as if I hadn’t just scolded him. I detected a hint more possessiveness than usual.
“Every surfer boy here will know you’re taken,” Will explained after pulling his mouth away.
He sat on the chair next to mine. “Oh, I see. So you weren’t just trying to kiss the panties off me. You had an ulterior motive.”
“Saw the way a few bastards were looking at you when I walked up.”
“And you’re assuming the same surfers will be here next week?” I challenged. It might have been an underhanded tactic to get him to visit me next week too. Might.
“I don’t know, but I’ll be here.”
Mission accomplished! He kissed that sensitive spot where my neck met my shoulder. At first he just feathered his lips... but then he brought his tongue out to play too, and I felt that little lick all over my body. Was he doing it on purpose? What was I saying—of course he was. He couldn’t seem to help himself around me, and I couldn’t deny it—I loved that.
“You’re all I need, Paige.”
I was so humbled that I was giving him what he needed. When I couldn’t feel a hot exhale against my neck, I realized he was holding his breath, as if his own words had caught him by surprise. Then he went on, and I inched closer, because he was speaking in a low voice and I didn’t want to miss one word.
“I think I’ve always avoided needing someone, but with you... nothing feels close enough.” His warm breath landed on my skin again. “I’m not sure if I’m making sense, but I wanted you to know this.”
“You are making sense,” I assured him gently. I understood where he was coming from. I’d been afraid of losing Dad as a kid, but he did lose his parents. Needing someone had always seemed like a vulnerability.
I just couldn’t get enough of his body heat, of the beauty of this moment. He’d shown me a vulnerable part of himself, and though I’d never been outspoken about voicing my feelings, I wanted to open up with Will.
“When I went shopping with Mom, she told me that I’ve always been afraid of love. But with you, I’m not afraid at all. Isn’t that crazy?”
He pulled back a little, looking straight at me. I had never, ever seen Will smile like that. It was wide and warm, and he seemed immensely happy. I’d made that happen, huh? I’d made my hunky detective happy enough to warrant a smile so wide, I was a little afraid his cheeks would hurt.
