Page 20 of Summer Salvation
ELEVEN
HADLEY
Generally, I am not forward. That’s not lady-like, and my mama raised me to be a lady. I never ask for what I want. Hell, I don’t even ask for things I need. So when Theo tells me to be crystal clear, to spell out exactly what I want, I take a leap of faith. I mean, he’s handsome and charming. Who wouldn’t want to fuck him?
Still, spelling out the wordcockmakes me feel embarrassed. Good Southern girls don’t say, or spell, words like that. As soon as I say it, I want to take it back. Do it over. The sassiness I show him is not who I truly am; it’s who I think he wants.
And then he tells me what he wants. A kiss. Akiss?
I want that, too. Maybe more than the otherthing,because the feel of his hands on me—brushing against my skin, holding me, touching me—it’s almost too much.
A kiss is the perfect distraction. A kiss is more my speed.
I’m not prepared for the moment when his lips meet mine. Desire and warmth spread through me, nervous energy pumps through my veins, and doubt creeps into my thoughts.
Maybe I’m not good enough for a man like Theo.
The thought overwhelms me, and I try to pull away. But there isn’t a single reservation in the way Theo kisses me, the way he holds me tight, the way he won’t let me escape. His kiss gives me no choice but to submit to him and ignore any uncertainty inside me.
I lean into him, kissing him back with my own sense of urgency. His hands slide down my back, under my backside, and squeeze. A squeak manages to escape my lips, breaking our connection.
I giggle and make eye contact, realizing he’s out of breath like me.
“I haven’t kissed someone like that since I was a teenager,” he says.
“I haven’t kissed like that ever,” I confess.
He grunts. “You’ve been kissing the wrong guys.” He reaches up to grasp a loose piece of my hair and tucks it behind my ear. “It’s a fucking shame there aren’t men lined up down the block for a chance to kiss you.”
“I’d settle for one guy.”
He chuckles. “Good answer since we’ve already established you turn me into a jealous beast. I hate competition.”
“So do I.”
“You don’t have to worry about anyone else. You’re the first woman I’ve touched since Serena left.”
His response generates more questions I have about his ex-wife, but this isn’t the time or the place to have that conversation. “So, what now?”
A slow, devilish smile spreads across his lips. “I have a few ideas.”
I let him tempt me with those desires, sliding me down onto the couch and fitting his body next to mine. He doesn’t try and move beyond the lazy kisses we share. His hands stroke my back and tease my skin, offering me a glimpse of what’s to come, building anticipation inside me.
He’s hard against me, his cock pressing into my belly, but it’s his lips doing the dirty work, straying from my mouth to plant hot kisses along my jaw or to nip my earlobe.
When I shiver, he asks, “Are you cold?”
“No,” I whisper, pressing my lips against his for more kisses. How could I be cold when kissing him sets me on fire?
Theo pulls back, nuzzling his nose against my cheek. “I don’t want to stop kissing you, but if I don’t stop, my control is going to collapse.”
That wouldn’t be so bad, would it?“Back to neutral corners?” I ask instead.
He sighs and kisses my temple. “Unfortunately. Piper’s an early riser. I don’t think we want her walking in on us like this.”
I inhale deeply, memorizing the scent of him. He always smells fresh and clean, like soap and water. It’s my new favorite smell.
Being with him like this, doing nothing more than kissing and touching, is what I’ve been waiting for my whole life. While most of the guys I’ve been with generated sparks, Theo ignited an inferno. Why would I settle for anything less?