Page 47 of You Had Me at Hockey

“Yeah. Your turn.”

Well, one thing I’ve always dreamed of is having sex. Is this the time to tell him that? Once again, I have a talent for scaring men away. Guys get freaked out about virgins. One time I told a man just as we were getting busy and he got wangxiety, and it never happened. “I’ve always dreamed of finishing college.”

After a beat, he says, “You still could.”

“Actually, Iamtaking courses. Well, just one right now, but I’ve done a few over the years. Maybe one day I’ll actually get a degree.”

“What are you taking?”

“Right now? Psychology.”

“That’s very cool.”

“It’s interesting. We’re learning about personality disorders. I’ve pretty much diagnosed everyone I know.”

“Everyone you know has a personality disorder?”

“Probably not.” I grin. “But it’s fun.”

“So what’s wrong with me?”

I study him, thinking. “Not a damn thing.”

“Ha. Other than I’m stuffy.”

I tilt my head. “Well, if that was really interfering with your life, it might be part of a disorder. But just being inflexible doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you. It’s not like you sit at home all the time because you’re afraid to try new things.”

“Huh. That does pretty much describe me.”

“You’re exaggerating. I mean, itcouldbe part of an anxiety disorder. Or PTSD. Or an adjustment disorder.” I pause. “Did you have a hard time adjusting after your accident?”

He doesn’t answer immediately, and I regret asking the question. We’ve been having a fun conversation, and now I’ve stuck my Steve Madden boot into my big mouth.

“Hell yeah,” he eventually says in a low voice. He meets my eyes and I can see the pain shadowing them. “Some things are still hard.”

“I’m sorry. I’m being a smartass.”

One corner of his mouth elevates. “It’s okay.”

Impulsively, I lean over and brush a kiss over his mouth.

He draws in a sharp breath and his eyes go heavy-lidded.

“I like you,” I say.

He’s watching my lips. “I like you too,” he says roughly. And he angles his head and dips in for another kiss…this time longer. Our mouths press together. I feel heat radiating from him. I’m vibrating. It’s like we both want more but we’re hesitant to make the next move.

With a low groan, he sets his beer on the table and slides his hand around the back of my neck, pulling me closer. His mouth opens on mine, deepening the kiss, and heat floods through me. Our tongues slide together and it’s so hot, so erotic, my belly is flip-flopping and my inner muscles are clenching and releasing.

I lower my wineglass to the table too, sliding closer to him on the couch. Our mouths have barely separated, but we dive back into the kiss, my hands clutching at his shoulders. I breathe him in, the scent of his skin making my head whirl. Our tongues glide together, our lips pressing. His mouth is hot and soft and tastes faintly bitter, like hops.

God,God,he can kiss. His mouth moves on mine, kissing the corners, sucking on my bottom lip so gently. Moments flow into each other as I lose myself in it. I need to be closer to him and he knows that, dragging me onto his lap, his hands moving over me. And then that’s not enough either…I want skin. I want his hands on my skin. I wantmyhands on his.

Please, don’t let this ever stop…

As my head falls back and his mouth feasts on my throat, sucking gently then licking, tasting, he slides a hand up from my waist, over my ribs, and then…I shudder as he cups my breast. Oh God…my back arches, pushing deeper into his palm, and he squeezes gently, his mouth working magic on the side of my neck. I feel like I’m glowing…brimming with heat and light and desire.

His fingertips brush over my chest in the opening of my top. My nipples tingle and tighten even more as he finds the ties of the wrap blouse and tugs and then it’s loose. Slowly, his mouth on my jaw, he separates the two sides.

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