Page 16 of Tattooed Boss
“It’s really nice,” she said.
“What?” he asked, nudging her side.
“Did you choose the yellow door?”
He shoved his hands into his jean pockets and leaned on his heels. “My mother did.”
“Oh.”
“She likes to insert herself into my decisions. Luckily for you, she is currently on a cruise her cousin dragged her on. If not, you would have met her many times by now.”
“She sounds sweet.”
“She’s an overbearing pain in my ass, who luckily has no service at sea, but I suppose she is sweet, in that I ate too much candy and now my stomach hurts way.”
Harley slapped his chest. “Be nice.”
“You haven’t met her yet. I’m sure you’ll come over to the dark side when you have. Anyway, we should get inside before Connie sees us.”
“Who is Connie?”
“My neighbor… and one of Willow Cove’s biggest gossips.”
“Don’t you think you should have told me you lived next door to the town's gossip?”
He shrugged. “I thought it would keep you from coming.”
“Probably. Now let’s go.”
Garrett laughed as he walked way too slowly up the front steps. Harley was already at the door, glancing around, praying Connie wouldn’t see her. She couldn’t be like Garrett and not care what people thought. She was finally in a place where people didn’t know anything about her past mistakes, and she wanted to keep it that way.
He opened the door and lifted his arm. “Oh, hi Connie!”
Harley dove into the house and grabbed his collar, yanking him in. He stumbled behind, his broad chest slamming into her. She rocked back, but his big hand wrapped around her and pulled her upright.
A laugh slipped from his lips, and a smile spread wide across his face.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Because Connie wasn’t there. She walks her dog at this time. She won’t be back for at least ten more minutes.”
Harley let out a breath and rolled her eyes. “You’re an ass.” His hand stilled, spreading heat through her entire being. Her gaze caught his, and blue turned to a stormy gray. A quick inhale echoed in the small space between them.
His head dipped, and she knew she should back away, but her heart and her brain refused to get on the same page. Her heart was strong, too damn strong, intended to take whatever he was willing to give, and if it was a simple kiss, she wouldn’t only take it, she would cherish it. He wouldn’t be kissing Harley Love the brand, he would be kissing her.
The voices in her head faded away, and all she could hear was the beating of her own heart, a loud crescendo, claiming its right to be heard. The world around her dimmed, her vision focusing only on Garrett and the strong lines of his face, the storm brewing in his eyes.
“We shouldn’t,” he said just before his lips pressed to hers, a stutter in time that grew into an eternity, and even still it wasn’t long enough. His mouth moved slow at first, but she could feel the beast within, refusing to be kept dormant.
Garrett’s hand thrust into her hair, cupping her crown, and tilting her head back. He deepened the kiss, and she opened her mouth, welcoming the delicious intrusion of his tongue. She met his thrusts, tangling in a dance that weakened her knees and made her head spin. It was too much and not enough, a weird paradigm she never wanted to crack.
Her heart continued to race, but the frantic patters eased to a happy rhythm, galloping in anticipation. He slid his hands to her face and backed her until she was against the wall. Her body arched, pressing against him, desperate for contact.
He traced his fingers down her cheek, his lips following in a frenzied path, kissing and licking the length of her neck and cresting along her breasts. She moaned as his tongue swiped across the sensitive flesh, digging her nails into his shoulders, wanting to feel his mouth everywhere.
She reached for the hem of her shirt, but he moved up, his mouth stopping just shy of hers.
“We should st—”