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“Other than Georgia and Hampton, I was the only baby you’d ever seen.”
I feathered a light kiss on the end of her nose. “I spent all of my childhood on the sidelines, watching you and Hampton and Georgia.”
Her face fell and she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. She was ashamed, but she had no reason to be. “I’m sorry we didn’t include you more.”
“I’m not.”
Her gaze jumped back to mine and I shrugged.
“It may have been Hampton who made you laugh or Georgia you told all your secrets to, but it was me who got to enjoy it the most. I got to watch the way your nose crinkled when you giggled. I learned that when you thought something was really funny you tossed your head back. And when you said something you knew was going to make other people laugh, the second before it came through your perfect lips, your eyes would widen and become even more blue than they already are.”
“Lawson…” she whispered, her breath ghosting across my face.
“I also know you cry every time you watch a Disney movie.”
“They always kill someone in those stupid movies,” she grumbled.
“You cry, because you’re tender-hearted and compassionate. Which is why you’re going to be an incredible doctor.” I swallowed hard. “I know you miss Jack, and that you still feel guilty for letting him drive that night, even though you know there was nothing you could have done to stop him from getting behind the wheel.”
Her lips pressed together and she cut her eyes away from mine. I dropped one hand to her chest, placing my palm flat against where her heart was beating.
That night, I’d never been more terrified in my life as I was when I pulled Piper from the twisted wreckage that only moments before had been a Chevy Camaro. I thanked whoever was listening that her heart was beating then, just as strong as it was now. “And it’s okay to still feel that emptiness inside you where he should be.”
She looked back to me and returned my nod.
I chuckled. “I know you’re more confident than I could ever dream of being. And it comes so damn naturally to you. You never had to work at not being awkward and nervous. I’ve always admired that about you. I mean, you have to be damn confident to sing as loudly as you do. Do you know how many times I’ve jumped out of that chair, thinking that Seven was injured, only to find out it was you singing along to a song you didn’t actually know the words to?”
Even though her eyes were wet, she let out a small laugh. “I sing just fine, thank you. Maybe you should have your hearing checked.”
I shook my head. “You make dogs howl when you sing Mariah, Pippie.”
I brought the hand that was still over her heart back up to her face, and her fingers were wrapped around my wrists. I kissed each one of them and then finished, “So, I know exactly how stunning you are, Piper Kelley. And it’s not just your beautiful face that makes you the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. It’s all the parts of you, even the not so great ones, that make you an absolute knock-out.”
I pulled her to me so our bodies were flush and dropped one of my hands to her waist, the other sliding into her hair. With my tongue, I traced the curve of her jaw, kissing and nibbling my way to her ear. Pulling her lobe between my teeth, I nipped the soft flesh before whispering, “How was that?”
She sighed, arching her body into mine, and turned her head until our cheeks were pressed together, our mouths so close that even the slightest movement would fuse them together. “Not too bad, I guess,” she murmured. “I think you could do better, though.”
I grunted before turning us, pressing her back against the wall and lifting, encouraging her to wrap her legs around my waist. The moment she did, I palmed the flesh of her ass with one hand and pulled her lips to mine.
She moaned as I teased my tongue across her bottom lip, nipping it with my teeth before sucking it into my mouth. She was still letting out breathy sounds of pleasure as I plunged into her mouth, my tongue greedily swirling with hers, taking everything she had to give. She was mine, her mouth was mine, and she didn’t know it yet, but I was hers.
I’d always been hers.
It could have been seconds or minutes or hours that we stood there, pressed against the wall, getting lost in the taste of each other. Hell, it could have been fucking years and it wouldn’t have been nearly long enough. But, all too soon, we were forced to come up for air and decide where the hell we were going next.
To the couch for TV and takeout?
Or to the bed?
Her chest heaving, she leaned her head against the wall. Her eyes closed, a faint smile played on her lips. “Yeah, that was better.”
I laughed, releasing my hold on her ass, and she slid down the wall until her feet were planted on the floor. Her eyes fluttered open and they were sparkling. “I have something for you.”
“Is it in the bedroom?”
She laughed, pushing at my shoulder. I took the hint and stepped away, following her as she made her way down the hall. “No, it’s in the kitchen.”
“Oh, on the table. I’m okay with that too.”
