Page 70 of The Geography of Happiness

Spencer hesitated, then sighed and started to uncurl my fingers from his jersey. “I don’t want to take advantage?—”

“Advantage?” My eyes sprang wide and I jerked back, letting him go. “Now just you hang on a minute.” I put my finger to my chin and pretended to look thoughtful. “Nope. Still thirty years old. Still able to make decisions for myself. Still wanting to be kissed. Whaddya know?”

A loose grin stole over his face.

“Because let me tell you—” I flattened my hand to his chest. “—as far as health incidents go in the O’Connor household, this is by no means the worst.” I side-eyed him. “Or maybe you think you’re so damn irresistible that I wouldn’t be able to turn you down so you have to do it for me?”

“What?” He looked visibly shocked, and I had to swallow a laugh. “Jesus, Terry. What kind of guy do you think I am?”

I arched a brow and he chuckled.

“Okay.” He lifted his hands. “I’m sorry for second-guessing you.”

I smirked. “Apology accepted. I might be bent out of shape about a lot of things, but I amnotconfused about wanting you to kiss me again and maybe even... more.” I let that sink in and Spencer’s mouth curved up in a cheeky smile.

“More, huh?”

I glanced toward the hall and waggled my hand. “Within reason.”

His arm slid around my waist, then he surprised me by lifting me up onto the countertop. I glanced toward the closed kitchen door and Spencer followed my gaze.

“Are you sure this is okay?”

I slid my phone from my pocket to the countertop and then pushed it out of reach. “Hannah will call if she needs me, or Gabby will let us know. We’re good.”

Spencer ran the back of his fingers down my cheek and said, “Just so we’re clear, Idon’tthink you’re fragile or confused. I just didn’t want to presume.”

I shot him a narrow-eyed look. “Yeah, let’s just pretend that’s true.”

Colour rose in his cheeks but he said nothing.

“I’m so damn tired of worrying about tomorrow. Maybe I’ll regret this, but I don’t think so.” I traced the bow of his lips with my finger. “I trust you, and tonight I want something just for me, forus. I’m hoping you might like that too.”

He sucked my finger into his mouth and swirled his tongue around and around before letting it go. And how had I lived thirty fucking years and never had anyone do that to me?

“What happens in Oakwood stays in Oakwood?” His eyes danced and I nodded.

“If that’s all right with you? Let’s start with one of those kisses you seem particularly good at, then maybe you can do something about this.” I took his hand and pressed it over my burgeoning erection.

“Well now—” He leaned between my open thighs and nuzzled my ear, whispering, “—lucky for you, I have the perfect solution.”

“Lucky for me,” I whispered back and then counted to ten as he lowered his lips to my shoulder and squeezed my cock through my jeans. “Oh god.” My eyelids fluttered closed and my body came alive to his touch.

He kissed up my throat, then hovered his lips over mine. “You are so damn beautiful. Every time I look at you, I want to kiss you.”

Heat bloomed in my cheeks. “Yeah right,” I scoffed, leaning in to nip his lips. “I’m a single, neurotic, business-owner dad and inexperienced-as-hell lover. I live in a tiny town a million miles away, with zero life and not a lot else going for me. You, on the other hand are this confident, experienced, handsome, successful professional. And did I mention experienced? You’re seriously charming and you could have any manorwoman you wanted.”

Spencer held my gaze. “I wantyou. And besides,Ilive in a small town with zero life outside work—if you don’t count hookups, which I don’t cos they mean fuck all—and I’m too scared to let anyone close in case they want too much from me.”

A smile tugged at my lips. “That’s not as reassuring as you seem to think it is.”

He laughed and slid his hands around my neck. “You are the exception to the rule. Now come here.” He began pressing butterfly kisses to my face, my hair, my eyes, my nose, anywhere he could reach. “I’ve wanted you since the first time I saw you at the airstrip.” He brushed our noses together. “And now I have you. How fucking lucky is that?”

He crushed our mouths together and the world disappeared into the spell of everything Spencer Thompson until he was done and Iwas left breathless and wanting more.

“Damn, you’re good at that.” I tipped my head back to look him in the eye. “I know I sounded flippant about the whole inexperienced thing, but the truth is, I don’t know how far... Imean... I don’t think I can...” I sighed. “See, I’m crap at this. It’s not too late to change your mind.”

An outrageously filthy smile played on Spencer’s lips. “I think we should keep things really simple, so don’t worry, I’ve got you.”

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