Page 100 of Heart & Hope

“Tell me, or I will torture it outta ya,” he says, pushing from the wall slightly, arms folding across his chest.

He would, too.

Reed’s version of torture would have me on the brink of unraveling on his face.

“Fine. I was thinking about what I need to do when I go back to the city.”

The half smile that had grown on his face in anticipation falls. “Yeah, right. I mean...” His voice is tires on gravel.

“We still have the dinner tonight and the inn’s opening gala. But after?—”

He bolts forward, closing the space between us, hands on either side of my head. “Until then, we make every second count, beautiful.”

“I don’t know anymore. It’ll make leaving harder, Reed.”

He trails kisses down my neck.

The air leaves my lungs and doesn’t return. When he reaches my collarbone, I drag a shoddy breath inward and flatten against the wall. Cursing my body for responding to his so intensely, heat trickles through my core, lightning sparking up my spine.

“Reed.”

“Stop thinkin’, Rubes.”

“Why?”

“Cos.” He straightens up, green eyes drilling into me. Now devastation lines them like I’ve never seen before. “Thinking about you leavin’fucking hurts.”

I try to tamper the sob that claws upward, my face twisting with the effort. His hands are around my face, his lips brushing mine.

“Don’t cry, baby.” His jaw feathers fast, face strung out like a man on the edge of something incomprehensible.

Deny, Ruby.

Deny.

I shake my head too fast, dislodging tears.

Who am I trying to kid?

I’m so far gone, there’s no coming back.

With Reed, I feeleverything. Like he’s turned on an emotional faucet that I can’t wrench shut.

And I’m scared.

But I can’t turn back.

Not now.

I grip his collar and pull him closer still. His hands are under my ass, lifting me up the wall. I wrap my legs around his waist, plucking at the buttons on his shirt. He nudges my chin with his nose and covers my mouth with his. I open and take him in.

Hungry doesn’t even cut it.

We are starving.

Desperate.

I tug at the hem of my shirt, and he leans back as I pull it up and over and toss it to the tile floor. With a groan, he sinks his face between my breasts. Quick, rough hands release my bra, and it joins my shirt. Dark blond hair tickles my collarbone asReed’s mouth finds my peaks. I arch, still not close enough to him.

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