Page 28 of XOXO, Valentina

I hesitated, but only for a moment. I’d thought about nothing else since we’d made the date. “Yes. Nine o’clock.”

He ran back toward the trail at an easy jog, and I joined him. We ran for a few moments before he glanced at me with a mischievous smile. “I’m hungry now,” he said. “Are you?”

My footsteps faltered as his words sank in. “You want me to come over now?”

“Yes.”

Even though I’d spent days thinking of this moment, I wasn’t prepared for the rush of longing when it swept through me at the thought of being alone with Joey. I’d thought I’d have time to get through my run, sort my feelings, and shower before seeing him again, but life had taken a shortcut. And I was more than a little hungry.

“Okay,” I said.

He lifted his chin in a challenge. “Race me?”

He couldn’t possibly know it, but he’d said the perfect thing to make me forget my nerves. It wasn’t in my nature to turn down a race. Plus, I needed to redeem myself for the epic fail of our last race.

I grinned up at him, feeling lighter than I had in years, and took off at full speed. The joyful sound of his laughter trailed behind me as I ran like the wind.

14

Chapter 12

Joey

Gabriella jogged up the front steps of my house and slapped her hand on the door like the kids did when they were safe during tag. She whipped her head around at me and beamed triumphantly, her dark eyes sparkling. The expression of pure joy on her face went straight to my cock.

My gaze fell to her heaving chest. A ring of sweat spread around the neck of her T-shirt and dripped between her breasts. I imagined kissing the hollow of her throat like I’d wanted to in the closet, picking up right where we’d left off, but I couldn’t kiss her on my front porch in case someone we knew happened by. I couldn’t give her any reason to run away.

I pulled the key from around my neck and unlocked the main door, then tugged her inside. “Congratulations.” I hustled her toward the stairs. “But you didn’t win yet.”

I started racing up the stairs, then fell back, letting her win. I would let her win every time if it made her shine like the midday sun. Gabriella got to my door first and stepped aside to let me open it.

I fit the key in the lock. “I can’t wait to feed you something delicious,” I said.

She laughed. “Why does everything you say sound sexual?”

I grinned. “It’s my accent.”

Her eyes roamed over my face. “Maybe.” She dropped her gaze to my lips. “Are you trying to seduce me with pancakes?”

I smiled. “I was thinking French toast.”

A laugh burst from her mouth, and something devilish flashed in her eyes. That earned a twitch from my eager dick, which hadn’t gotten the message about being patient. Or at least that we needed to get to the bedroom before devouring her like a hungry wolf.

I pushed open the door and practically dragged her over the threshold into my apartment. Adrenaline coursed through my veins as I slammed the door and took her in my arms. Finally alone, we kissed. And it was as good as I remembered. Her mouth opened, and her tongue stroked mine in a curious exploration.

I’d often thought about kissing Gabriella like this and a whole lot more. I’d thought about unraveling her hair, untying her bows, and melting her iron exterior. But at that moment, she was the one melting me. She had me on the edge of reason with one hot kiss.

Our lips fused together, and every nerve in my body shot fireworks. Her tongue was in my mouth, her hands were on my chest, and her hips were glued to mine.

“Off.” She tugged the hem of my sweatshirt. “Now.”

Damn.

Who was I to argue? I stepped back and gripped both the hem of my sweatshirt and the shirt underneath it and stripped them off in one efficient move. Her eyes drifted down my chest, widening in appreciation. The energy between us surged, turning electric. Her gaze lingered briefly on the tattoo inked over my heart before snapping back to my face.

“And the cap.” She smirked, humor sparking through the lust in her dark gaze. “Stupid cap,” she muttered. “It’s not even cold.”

I scooped my hat from head and let it drop. “It’s my thinTicoblood,” I said.

---