Page 40 of Falling for You

“Go to sleep, Chloe, and I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“That’s it? You’re leaving?”

“I’m leaving. You’re sexy all sleep-rumpled and if I don’t get out of here, I’ll get more ideas in my head. Both of ‘em,” he jokes and I giggle. “So yeah, I’m going home. You’re going to bed. Tomorrow we’ll chat. I work at the bar quite a bit this week. My boss is surprising his wife and taking her on a baby moon, or whatever that’s called.”

“Aww. That’s so sweet! He sounds like a nice guy.”

“He is. But that means he needs me around a bit more, which sucks for me because I’d really like to hang out with you but, maybe Sunday? Do you work?”

“Nope. The salon is closed on Sundays.”

“Perfect. I’m off that day, too. Want to do something?”

I gulp and nod, biting my lower lip. “Yes.”

“Do I need to set a reminder on your phone so you don’t blow me off again?”

“Ha ha. No. I’ll remember.”

“But we’ll talk before then, yeah?”

“Yeah,” I say, feeling giddy inside. First time in a long time I’ve felt remotely excited about a guy and it has me smiling so big my cheeks hurt.

“Good.” He leans over, brushes his lips against my cheek and slides a hand around my waist, giving it a light squeeze. “G’night, Chloe. Sweet dreams.” His lips are but a breath away from my ear, sending tingles up and down my spine. My grip on the door knob tightens, my hand slides up his arm, gripping his bicep with the lightest of touches.

“Night,” I whisper, head dropping back as I lean in closer to him. Toe still tap, tap, tapping the floor.

He backs away slowly, taking away his warmth and in its place the chill of the night air. Down low, his hand lifts just slightly for a half wave before he trots down my porch steps and makes his way down the sidewalk. Lights flash on a pickup before he climbs in the driver’s side. It starts up with a roar, the driver’s door not yet shutting.

Soon his large frame climbs out of the cab, lumbers back up my sidewalk and with purposeful steps, he makes his way to me.

Takes me in his arms, tugs so we’re body to body, flush against each other. My soft curves against the strength of him.

And then he leans his head down, and kisses the stuffing right out of me. The instant his mouth touches mine, my knees go weak. His arm around me bands tighter, holding me to him as he shows me what a first kiss is supposed to be like.

His lips press against mine, soft and hard. Rough and gentle. It’s everything all at once. Up on my tiptoes, I wrap my slender arms around his neck, lean my head back when his strong fingers thread through my long hair. His tongue traces the edge of my mouth and I open up. Twisting and twirling, he moans. Or I moan. Maybe it’s both of us. Neither of us taste of peppermint or coffee or chocolate or anything else delicious because we just spent the last several hours sleeping. In each other’s arms. It’s just the taste of us melding together as one and it’s incredible.

“Chloe.” My name sounds like an expletive when he says it, followed up in a softer tone as if he’s correcting himself. Both sound so amazing. Incredible. Especially when his hands continue to roam, cup my back side and tug me even closer still. I’m still in flimsy pajama bottoms and canfeelhim through his jeans pressed against my stomach.

“Fuck you feel good.”

This time I know it’s me who moans. The feel of his lips making a trail down the side of my face, kissing me below my ear in that sensitive spot nobody else seems to ever focus on, he zeroes in, taking his time to tease. His tongue snakes out, giving me the barest of touches. Teeth nip followed quickly by a soft kiss.

His mouth is magical.

His hands holding me tight are all man, so strong. So capable. Squeezing my butt cheeks tight then massaging.

It’s been so long since amanhas held me like this. Since he’s made me feel so beautiful… wanted. My breaths come fast and I want to climb him like a tree. My hands grip on my forearms around his neck, trying desperately to become one with him.

Desperation.

That’s how it feels.

To my toes, I’m desperate for this man.

Unexplainable.

Heart stopping.

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