Page 31 of Blame It On the Lattes

Sixteen

Avery

Ikissed Sam.

Not only did I kiss my best friend’s older brother—who I was currently living with, but I enjoyed it more than I could have ever anticipated.

Growing up, I’d always had a crush on Sam but never thought anything could happen between us because he always felt off limits being Cassidy’s brother. But now that we were older and spending so much time together, I was struggling to keep that boundary drawn.

We stood there staring at each other for a moment as a million thoughts raced through both of our minds after I admitted I would never regret kissing him. But it was true. There were plenty of things in life I might take back if I could, but feeling his warm lips pressed against mine as his body wrapped around me wasn’t one of them.

“I don’t regret it either,” he finally admitted as a dimpled grin appeared.

“Well, then, I guess that clears that up.”

“We still have one problem we need to deal with, though.”

My body tensed as I waited for whatever bad news he was about to deliver.

“Okay. What’s that.”

“I want to take you out tonight. At first, it was just as friends to get some holiday shopping done. But now, if you’d let me, I’d like to make it a date.”

My eyes widened with surprise. Sam was asking me out on a date?

“Sam, you don’t have to do that,” I said softly.

“Do what? Like you? Be so wildly attracted to you that I can’t stop obsessing over how beautiful you are. Or is it that I really want to spend time with you, and I would be honored if you would give me the privilege of taking you out?”

“I don’t know.” I laughed nervously, tugging at the hem of my shirt as I looked away. “All of this just happened out of nowhere. And to be honest, I haven’t dated anyone in almost a decade. I don’t even know what dating is like anymore. Plus, I have Kennedy to think about, and I know you don’t like to hear it, but I don’t know how long we’re staying in Sugarplum Falls.”

“I know.” He stepped forward and grabbed my hands, holding them in his. “I’m not asking for anything more than tonight, Avery. I know you have a lot on your plate right now and I would never try to make things more complicated. I adore Kennedy and would never want to make things hard for you with her, either. We can take this one baby step at a time. I’m not asking for forever; I’m just asking for tonight. One night where I can take you out and we can explore whatever this thing is between us.”

I pulled my lower lip between my teeth and inhaled sharply.

“Don’t do that,” he warned, his eyes suddenly darkening.

“Do what?” I asked, my voice so soft it was barely audible.

He stepped even closer, releasing my hands as he cupped my face and leaned in.

“Chew on your lip.”

“Oh.” I meant to release it, but the way he was looking at me so intently only made me bite down on it harder.

He released a frustrated breath before leaning in and devouring my mouth in the most passionate kiss I’d ever had. One hand stayed firmly behind my head while the other wrapped around my body, pulling me flush against him. Even through his jeans, I could feel the defined bulge of his erection.

I whimpered as my body started to turn to mush and a fire spread between my thighs. He hadn’t even touched me other than kissing, and I was seconds away from coming undone.

I tried to pull away so I didn’t embarrass myself, but then he deepened the kiss, and I was done. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer, desperate for whatever he would give me.

He broke the kiss and nudged my head to the side as he mercilessly kissed down my neck and over my collarbone. I was putty in his hands, begging him for the relief I needed.

“Are you sure you want to do this, Avery?” he asked as I clawed at his shirt again.

We were literally in the middle of the coffee shop, acting like two horny teenagers, but I didn’t care. I hadn’t felt this alive in so long that it gave me a high I didn’t want to come down from.

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