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“Ha.” He tugged a lock of her hair. “Nothing to be ashamed of. Passionate people pine. I pined for him too. And I was piningfor youwhen you left.” He stepped past her to head to the kitchen. “Now how about breakfast? I’m starving.”
She crossed her arms and followed him, frustrated not just that he was teasing her but that he was somehow okay with not having a starring role, that he didn’t think he deserved more.
He turned and held up a white bakery bag. “We’ve got plain and everything bagels. Plus chive cream cheese. Pick your poison.”
“Len,” she said.
He lowered the bag, looking wary all of a sudden. “What?”
“You know I’m serious when I say I love you, right?” Her words weren’t elegant but they were honest.
He smirked his trademark smirk. “Of course.”
But she wasn’t buying the confidence this time. She walked closer and then hoisted herself up to sit on the counter in front of him to get eye to eye. “No, I need you to really hear that. I know I have history with Aud and all this childhood crush stuff, but the times you and I have spent together? The things we’ve done? I didn’t do that for Auden. Or even because you’re melt-my-eyeballs hot—which you are, by the way. I did that because you’re funny and smart and interesting. I did it because I like who I am when I’m with you.” She pressed her finger to his chest. “I did it because I was falling in love with you.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed, his gaze as stripped down and open as she’d ever seen it. “I love you too. Had those feelings even when I wasn’t supposed to because you were supposed to be his.”
“No. I wasn’t supposed to be his. I’m supposed to beboth of yours,” she said with a conviction she felt down to her bones. “You’re mine too, and I’m not settling for you having less than a starring role in my life. So you better get over that inferiority complex you’re throwing at me real quick because—”
She didn’t get a chance to finish what she was going to say because Len cupped the back of her neck and kissed her. It started out sweet and gentle, but when she reached out to curl her fingers into his T-shirt, the bag of bagels hit the floor. He stepped forward, fitting into the space between her knees, and held her there as his tongue dipped into her mouth.
She sighed softly at the connection and flattened her hands against his chest. His heartbeat was quick against her fingertips as he whispered her name against her mouth and then deepened the kiss. She hooked her legs around his waist, the heat of him pressing against her, and got lost in the feel of him.
When he finally broke away for a moment, he gave her a look that made her stomach somersault. “I promised myself I wouldn’t touch you this morning, but how am I supposed to resist you when you look at me like that? Say things like that?”
“Why no touching?” she asked, confused.
Concern creased his face. “Because last night was a lot and you could probably use a break and I need you to know I love you for more than just what we do in bed and—”
“Lennox?”
“Yes?” he asked, looking slightly miserable.
“You have nothing to prove to me,” she said. “Over and over again, you tried to stop me and Auden from blowing this whole thing up with our insecurities. You fought for this. For him. For me. Forus.You didn’t let us hide. You”—she splayed her hands against his chest—“made this happen. You loved us enough not to give up.”
He blinked, his eyes shiny. “Sweets.”
“Plus”—she gave him a saucy smile—“yes, last night was a lot, but I was a virgin for nineteen years and felt guilty about every sexual urge for most of that time. I think I’ve earned a little overindulgence, don’t you?”
At that, a laughing smile broke out on his face. “Hell yes, you do. Not touching was a terrible idea. That was very stupid of me. Please forgive me.”
She laughed. “Forgiven.”
“God, I adore you.” He dove back into the kiss with more purpose now, and need pulsed through her. Before she realized what she was doing, she’d grabbed for the hem of his shirt and tugged it upward. He helped her along and tossed the shirt aside. Then she was kissing down his neck and nipping at his collarbone. She had the urge to run her tongue along every part of him, to explore each tattoo, to see which spots made him feel good. She started by sucking his nipple between her teeth, having no idea if that was okay, but letting her instincts take over.
“Jesus,” Lennox gasped, tipping his head back and letting his hands slide into her hair as she sucked and licked. “Fuck bagels. I’m going to eatyoufor breakfast.”
The declaration made her thighs clench. She licked over the words scrawled along his ribcage, ready to do whatever he wanted, and then boldly let her hand travel down between his legs. She gripped him through his jeans, his cock already like iron against her palm.
He let out a strained sound and then reached for the button on her shorts. Before she could take two breaths between kisses, he had her shorts and panties off and her legs spread.
“Your counter,” she protested, remembering what he’d said afterFatal Attraction.“You’re anti-counter-sex.”
But Len braced his hands on each side of her thighs and leaned in to kiss her again. “You’re changing my mind on a lot of things. Hold on to the edge, Sweets.”
She did as she was told and watched with a held breath as Len lowered down to his knees. The counter wasn’t too high, and his height put him in exactly the right place. Sunlight streamed in through the window over the sink, a nearly sheer curtain the only thing keeping this private.
“You’re fucking gorgeous, O’Neal,” he said, voice ragged as he dragged a finger down from her navel, his gaze following the path with rapt interest. “I want to draw you just like this one day. Every line and curve.”
