Page 34 of Almost Love

“I thought you were all sunshine and smiles, but I kinda like this version of you.”

“Don’t get too used to it, I don’t even know where it’s coming from.”

Weirdly enough, she liked it. “Too late, I’mobsessed.”

“You’re a treat,” he said, chuckling as he took a small step back. His face transformed again and she had to admit that she liked this version better. She hooked a finger through a belt loop and pulled him to her. “Hi again.”

“Hi. So, what do you say?” She arched an eyebrow, fingers ready to grab all that hair again.

Oakley stared at her, like he was trying to figure out if she was being serious or fucking with him. She swiped a finger through the frosting of the crushed cupcake. Then dragged it over her mouth, fully aware of what she was doing. She’d never been sexy on purpose before, but it was clearly working. His eyes dropped to her mouth and before she could lick off the frosting, his lips were on hers. It was a kiss and a consumption all at once and it sent shots of pleasure down to her core. Humming, she let him have his taste, then nipped at his bottom lip.

“Better save some for later,” she whispered and he shook his head.

“Fuck that. I just got a taste of you. I don’t want to stop.”

She licked her lips slowly, all while he watched her. Even though she knew he was going to do it, she was still caught off guard when his hand gripped her jaw and pulled her to him. She went willingly, her body responding to his touch and the groan that vibrated through both of them. She slid her hands up and around his neck, tongue sweeping out to dance with his. His cupcake-free hand was back on her ass, pulling her flush against him. She could have stayed right there, rubbing against him and letting him explore her mouth hungrily. Except a shrill sound echoed through the small space and they both jumped apart.

“What the hell.” She panted, chest heaving as she looked around.

Oakley groaned and reached for his phone. “Fuck. I have a client coming in now.”

“I should probably go, then.”

“No, stay.” He stepped in her way and she arched an eyebrow. “Not in here, but stay in the shop.”

“I should probably get tomyshop, no?”

“Should you?” he said.

She hesitated, but nodded, because she knew that she was going to stay the first time he said it. She then pulled him towards her again, their lips colliding with a soft laugh. Oakley’s mouth stayed in a smile through the kiss and then he pulled back to look at her when his phone buzzed again.

“Stay,” he whispered again and then pulled away from her. With one last smolder, he stepped out of the workstation and she released a shaky breath. The buzzing sound of tattoo machines filled the space and she couldn’t hear his voice anymore. Checking her phone for the time, she told herself that she could stay for a bit, but she did need to get to the bakery—there were wedding cakes to prep for, employees to meet with. Then again, she had never taken a day off since she opened her business, so maybe this was her first day off. And for good reason.

Leaving her things with Oakley’s bag and jacket, she forced slow breaths, then walked out, only to freeze when she recognized the people talking to him. She looked between Everleigh, Lachlan and Oakley, smiling awkwardly.

“Hey Clementine!” the redhead greeted her and she blushed.

“Hey guys…uh, what are you doing here?”

Everleigh’s smile widened as she said, “Oakley designed some tattoos for me. And I was going to see if I could convince this one to add one more to some part of that body.”

She nodded, swallowing down her unease as she forced a smile. “That’s cool. I’m going to…uh, wait in the…over there, okay?”

At Oakley’s nod, she waved and turned into the long hallway, totally unaware of where she was going. Until she reached whatlooked like a break room and dropped onto the worn out couch with a heavy sigh. She’d successfully asked Oakley to fuck her, but now she needed to get her shit together and actually follow through on this decision.Fucking hell.

CHAPTER 10

“I’ll be in touch.”

That’s what Clementine said three days ago and Oakley was now slightly on edge.

The day of their kiss, after he’d finished work, he’d found her fast asleep on the break room couch. He’d woken her up and after a hit of sugar and coffee, told her that he was okay with the change to their deal. The smile she flashed would have made a lesser man go blind, but he’d been reminded how desperately he craved the woman.

Not hearing from her was ramping up his anxiety. He went through the motions of doubting himself and this plan.Did she realize that I’m not worth it and change her mind? Is she rethinking her decision? Should I text her first?The thoughts came at him when he wasn’t busy and it kept building every single time he allowed himself to think about her. In those three days, he picked up his phone countless times to make sure it was working. He even started and deleted texts, because he didn’t want to come across as too desperate.

But he was.

Kissing Clementine Kinney had been, as he suspected, life-altering. From the taste of her to knowing how soft she waseverywhere. His hands had taken some liberties that day, grabbing her hips and her ass, pulling her flush against him. He dreamed about it every single night. This time, there was no frosting. Just that ridiculously perfect body. Now that he knew what she felt like pressed up against him, he didn’t have to imagine what it would be like. It was driving him insane not having the real thing.

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