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The crazy thing was … she tried to keep emotional rollercoasters out of her life so she wouldn’t revert to OCD tendencies or embarrass herself or others … but with Reed and their banter and the anticipation for his kiss, she found she loved the emotions surging through her. She didn’t think they would hurt or mess her or Reed up. Then again, they might. She’d have to shelve that and deal with it later.
Right now, she wanted Reed to claim his kiss.
Reed shut off the overhead lights on the panel by the door. The room was lit only by a lamp next to the couch. The cameras would have a harder time picking up their movements, and it was even more romantic.
Turning back toward her, Reed gave her a significant look that should’ve made her collapse on the floor, but instead it strengthened her. He wanted her, and her kiss, and she was everything to him.
Walking slowly toward her, Reed pulled out his phone, held down the side button, and said, “Text Thor.”
“What would you like me to say to Thor, the true hero of Summit Valley?” his phone said back.
Esther smiled, though her legs were trembling. She was certain Thor had programmed that into Reed’s phone. Her number for Thor was simply Most Heroic Brother Ever. Her other brothers, besides Greer, gave Thor a hard time about it.
“Don’t look at the cameras,” Reed said into his phone, giving her a brilliant smirk, “Unless you want to watch me kiss your sister thoroughly.”
Esther arched her eyebrows, trying to look brave. “Thoroughly?” she asked, voice cracking.
Reed pocketed his phone, ignoring the beep of a text back from Thor. He approached her like the strong, confident, incredible man he was. He rested one hand on the wall by her head and leaned in until his chest brushed hers.
“Thoroughly,” he repeated in a low, sexy growl as his gaze focused on her lips.
Esther smiled, and she found the strength to say sassily, “Well, get to fulfilling this bet … thoroughly.”
He tenderly cupped her cheek with his free hand, his thumb trailing across her lower lip and making her feel faint and out of breath.
“I just need you to know,” he said softly. “This kiss has nothing to do with fake dating, a bet, or anything but the fact that I am head over heels in love with you, Esther Delta.”
Esther’s eyes widened at his beautiful proclamation. He loved her?
He loved her.
The smart thing to do would be to duck away from his touch or tell him to stop. She knew he would honor her request. She should do any of a hundred things to stop this out-of-control love bus from crashing off a cliff. The last thing she should do was kiss him, let him kiss her, and in that husky voice as he’d said, kiss her “thoroughly.”
Instead of being one bit smart, she ignored all the warnings screaming in her head, arched up, and met him halfway as he bent and captured her lips with his.
The kiss was long and thorough and had her lips singing with pleasure and her mind vacant of anything but one hot sheriff—hersheriff—Reed. She loved him, and if she could push away all the fears of the future and of Garret somehow hurting him, she might tell him that.
After she kept kissing him and kissing him and kissing him.
Reed pinned her against the wall and fulfilled that wish, kissing her with a passion she’d never experienced in her life. He wrapped his hands around her waist and lifted her off the ground. She clung to him, and they kept kissing. Never had she kissed someone this deeply and thoroughly. This should feel completely out of control, but she loved every second. She’d never been so happy, carefree, and worried less about control in her life.
Reed easily carried her to the couch and all thoughts of anything but him disappeared. He settled down and cradled her against his chest as the kisses continued. The love she felt for him and from him grew into a frenzied crescendo. She’d never have to deal with her issues or worries again. She’d keep clinging to Reed, kissing him, and nothing in this world could touch her.
Her phone started ringing and buzzing in her pocket. She ignored it. Then Reed’s phone started ringing and she could feel it buzzing against her hip. She prayed he’d ignore it. Her phone started ringing again.
Reed slowed the kisses and gently pulled away with a beautiful smile on his lips. “Not that I would interrupt kissing you for anything, but with the situation we’re in, we should answer one of our phones.”
“I hate rational thoughts,” she said, and she meant it. She didn’t want rational thoughts, danger, or the world to intrude on their incredible kissing connection. Most especially, she didn’t want her usual worries or barriers to return.
He smiled and pulled out his phone, leaning slightly back on the couch and looking so irresistible she wanted to kiss him all over again. She slid off his lap so she wouldn’t attack him while he made the phone call. He frowned slightly at her movement and tucked her into his side with his strong arm. She didn’t mind. She leaned into his shoulder and listened.
“Hey, Thor. Oh?” Reed’s voice suddenly sounded a little chagrined. “Okay. That’s … reasonable. Tell him I apologize and of course I’ll treat her with respect tonight.”
Esther grimaced and looked up at him. “My dad?” she mouthed.
He nodded. “Talk to you tomorrow.” He hung up and slid his phone back in his pocket, pulling a face at her. “Apparently Thor was on camera duty and respectfully tryingnotto watch us ‘mack-daddy,’ but … your dad walked by the screen. He said to cool it or he’d come over here and kick my butt.”
“Yikes.” She looked him over. “I think he could do it, too.”
