Page 34 of False Assumptions

She smiled up at him as he set her down. “You weren’t so bad yourself.”

“Not so bad? I was awesome too, and you know it.”

Layla laughed. “Yeah, okay. You were awesome too.”

“That’s right I was. I’m always awesome.”

Smiling, Layla pushed up on her toes and kissed him. The laughter on his face died away, and he grew serious, his eyes searching her face. Then he kissed her again, slower and deeper, all heat and promise. It dawned on her that that was the first time she’d initiated a kiss. But she’d become more comfortable with him, with them as a couple. The idea had settled into her brain and body, and the truth was, she felt better, more grounded, with his arms around her. His lips on hers made her feel different, better, than she did otherwise. Than she remembered feeling ever before when she’d been kissed. Evan made things different.

She didn’t like change very much, so it’d taken a few days to catch up. But she appreciated that he’d given her the time to do that.

When he broke the kiss, he threaded his fingers through hers and tugged her down the hall. “Come on. Let’s go celebrate a job well done.”

“Celebrate?” A smile stretched across her face. “What did you have in mind?”

He stopped, his eyes smoldering as he looked at her, his thumb rubbing over his lower lip.Unf. That gesture alone had heat pooling between her legs. Those lips were so talented. And she’d discovered on Saturday that he wasverygood with his hands. She wanted to find out just how good.

Tugging her closer, Evan took a deep breath. He bent his head close to hers and pitched his voice low. “I know how I’d prefer to celebrate. But I’m not sure you’re ready for that yet.”

His words had her shifting her feet, trying to discreetly rub her thighs together. She licked her lips and swallowed. “I think … I might be interested in seeing what you have in mind.”

His eyes widened, pupils dilating, and his hand cradled the base of her head as he pulled her in for a bruising kiss, his lips firmer and more demanding than they had been, his tongue seeking hers, searching her mouth, giving her no quarter. When he pulled back, his chest heaving, she could feel him long and hard against her belly.

“Maybe we should wait to do more of that until we get to my apartment.”

Running his thumb over his lips again, he huffed out a laugh. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

He took off, and Layla almost tripped trying to keep up with his long stride. Slowing a little, he gave her a crooked grin. “Sorry. Should I carry you again? It might be faster.”

Laughing, Layla shook her head. “No, thanks. I prefer walking. And isn’t anticipation half the fun?”

He let out a groan. “Woman, you’ve been keeping me waiting for long enough, don’t you think?”

She arched a brow at him, still smiling. “I like to think I’m worth the wait.”

His only response was a smoldering look as they got in the car. He kept his hand on her leg the whole drive to her place, like he was afraid she’d change her mind if he stopped touching her. Or he didn’t want to take his hands off her because he wanted her so much.

He practically dragged her up the steps to her apartment, standing behind her with his hands on her waist while she unlocked the door. As soon as they were inside, he dropped his bag and stripped off the jacket he had on that day, his long sleeve thermal henley landing on the floor next to it a second later.

“You’re behind, Layla. Let’s get you caught up.”

His presence always filled her tiny living room, but today he seemed larger than life, his muscles bulging and rippling as he stalked her across the room. She backed up, a shiver of anticipation going down her spine. Her backpack landed on the couch, and her jacket followed, but she was still backing toward her bedroom when he caught her. His arms went around her, his hands sliding down her back to her ass. He lifted her easily, and she clutched at his shoulders, surprised at her sudden change in elevation, her legs automatically going around his waist.

“How’m I supposed to get my clothes off if you’re holding onto me like this?”

His eyes twinkled with mischief. “I think we’ll manage.” His mouth found hers, and she didn’t have the room in her brain to think of anything witty to say. She just wanted to feel him. Everywhere.

Before she knew it, he’d laid her down on her bed. His movements were so controlled and gentle, and his tongue so distracting, that she didn’t even register what was going on until her back made contact with the bed. She left her legs wrapped around his waist, enjoying the way he pushed against her like that, but his hands were now free to touch her. They pushed under her T-shirt, the rough calluses on his palms rasping over her skin, pulling the cups of her bra out of the way to gain access to her breasts. She gasped when he tweaked her nipples, his thumbs running over them, his fingers pinching and tugging just enough to bring her attention to them but not hard enough to hurt.

Her fingers dug into the muscles of his shoulders, but she wanted to feel him all over too. She ran her hands down his arms first, squeezing his biceps, feeling the indent between his muscles. Then she went to his chest, rubbing her thumbs over his flat nipples, bringing them to attention. He grunted at the treatment, pulling back to look at her. She grinned, and he shook his head at her, an answering smile on his face.

Before she could do anything else, though, his hands went behind her back, and he was sitting her up, reaching behind her to undo her bra, and pull it and her shirt off together. Her hair fell around her bare shoulders and in her face, and he brushed it away before she could, the look on his face tender and affectionate as he leaned in for another kiss, slow and sweet.

This. This would be her undoing. She never would’ve expected tenderness from Evan Coopman.

She ran her tongue over his lower lip, feeling its plump fullness. But that seemed to unleash something inside him. His hands gripped her, one on the back of her neck, the other on her hip, capturing her and holding her in place. He took over the kiss, fierce with need, all tongue and lips and teeth. His chest pushed against hers, laying her back on the bed. Then his hands settled on her breasts, kneading them roughly before running down her torso to her waist, yanking the button open with one hand and working the zipper down. Before she could do or say anything, he’d stood up and, with his fingers hooked into the waist of both her jeans and panties, yanked everything down and off.

He stood over her, his eyes taking everything in, and she fought the urge to cover herself with her hands. It wasn’t that she’d never been naked with someone before. But none of those guys had really studied her like Evan was doing. It made her feel seen. Exposed. And she wasn’t used to that feeling.

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