"That's it? Elliot, I don't want some careful relationship with kisses and then you send me off to?—"

He moves like lightning, dropping my hands, cupping my cheeks and pressing his lips to mine.

My lashes flutter closed and I grab at the wet layers of his clothing, needing to be closer. He takes control, pouring everything intothislanguage. Where words are no longer necessary.

Warm, firm lips move against mine. His breath on my cheek. His body pressing into me. Learning, exploring, teasing past my lips with his tongue.

Pleasure pulses through me and my body goes soft, needy. I slip my fingers beneath the sodden fabric, searching for his skin, needing more connection. As soon as I feel those scorching muscles, my ire floats away on the steam and swirls down the drain.

Oh my god, this is heavenly.

And wild.

And crazy.

He still has his boots on.

I grin, and he lifts his head.

"What's put that smile on your face?"

"You." I huff a laugh. "You're wearing boots in the shower."

"I'd wear boots in the pool so long as it means I can kiss you."

I grin at him, delighted by his zaniness. His smile is wide, full of joy and humor. I love that about him just as much as I love that we can laugh together.

His dark gaze drops to my lips again and my stomach does that swoopy-swirly thing. Almost as if it had never been, his humor fades and seriousness takes hold again. Heavens help me, they're both good looks on him. Both make me tingle with need and wet with desire.

He tugs my hips forward until there's no denying the hard length trapped between us. "There's nothing chaste about this, Lily," he says, his rough voice reminding me of my earlier plea. "Let me wipe away that notion right now. I want to fuck you in every room of this house. Twice on the porch. I want your scent all over me so I can fill my lungs with you whenever I want. I want your toothbrush next to mine and your clothes in my closet."

Wow.

Wow. Wow. Holy wow.

That's— that's so sweet and serious and I fling myself into his arms. Happiness is a living, breathing beast inside me, ready to burst out. I kiss his throat, his jaw, over to his chin, then his lips.

He touches me all over. Hands gliding down my sides to cup my ass. I hike a leg up over his hip and he wastes no time rocking that glorious erection against my clit.

I pull my lips away, sobbing a breath, as my eyes roll back.

"Elliot—"

6

ELLIOT

My name has never sounded better than it does rolling off Lily’s tongue. Her sweet voice is breathless, needy, full of wonder.

And god, I'm feeling all that myself.

This is really happening.

We're really here, together.

"I love the way you say my name," I say against her throat. She smells of sugar and peppermint and I can't resist licking the pulse thumping beneath her skin.

Her hands move to my shoulders, clinging like a little kitten and she keeps her head carefully tilted to give me access to all that soft skin.