Page 22 of You & I, Rewritten

“Is that so?”

“Oh yeah…I’m pretty sure you could tell me to read the phone book and I’d ask how many times,” I say, emboldened by the wine. It’s true and I’m not even embarrassed about it. Already, Graham has this hold over me that I know is going to be dangerous…but only in the best possible way.

He flashes a smile while shaking his head at me. “I am literally failing to come up with a witty response to that,” he says through laughter. “But I guess we’ll have to find you a phonebook.Immediately.”

“I guess you will,” I say, leaning even closer to him, stretching out my leg and letting it brush against his. My heart melts when I see him smile at the physical contact. “What else do you have for me?”

“I’m glad you’re not sick of my questioning yet,” he says, bumping his toned leg against mine. “Since we work in publishing…what kind of books do you enjoy reading?”

“Honestly, I feel like my taste in books is all over the place depending on the mood I’m in…but I’m a big thriller and romance guy. And if you can combine the two?” I fan my face dramatically, causing another laugh to escape Graham’s lips. “Give meallthe steam.”

“I think I can help with that…” And with those seven little words, I don’t know how much more I can take of this before I leap across the table and straddle him on the spot. After our plates have been cleared and our waitress returns with Graham’s credit card—he insisted on paying—we’re both leaning anxiously toward one another.

“I’d like to askone morequestion.”

“Shoot.”

“Can youpleasesay something else in Spanish?” I ask, doing my best to appear charming and endearing rather than undeniably desperate and thirsty.

Graham smirks, clearing weighing over my surprise bonus question. “¿Cómo se siente ser tan guapo sin intentar?” he says, softly and purposely placing emphasis on every single word.

“Ooh! Guapo…I’m fairly positive I know that one!” I say, feeling all the blood rush to my cheeks.He thinks I’m handsome…maybe?“But the rest?”

“I asked how it feels to be so handsome without even trying. Come on…let’s get out of here.” He stands and extends his hand toward me which I happily take as he proceeds to lead us out of the crowded restaurant.

I don’t know if it’s the wine or the intoxicating company but I am just very thankful his back is turned toward me because my ears burn bright red at his sweet compliment.

* * *

“I had a really,reallynice time tonight,” Graham says, shoving his hands in his pockets and leaning against the doorframe. We’re standing on our front patio after he offered to walk me home and all I keep thinking is how tonight was truly magical. I felt like it was the first time Graham felt comfortable being fully himself around me and I loved every second of it.

He’s lingering. We’ve been in this back and forth dance of “almost” moments and it suddenly feels like it’s all been leading to right now, standing here with him on my porch after a night like tonight. Taking a step closer to him, I desperately want to eliminate as much distance as possible without seeming desperate.

But fuck! I need to have those lips on me. Come on, Graham, kiss me already!

“I did, too. Everything about the evening was…” I pause, trying to find the right word, “…perfect.” We’re now standing chest-to-chest, just inches apart. My arms are at my sides, but I allow my fingertips to brush the length of his solid thigh, itching to feel more and loving the grin it puts on his face.

This is fucking torture.

“I’ll say.” Graham’s voice is almost lost to the pounding in my ears. The deafening silence of the stillness now forming between us is so overwhelming, I begin to tremble. I need his lips on mine more than I’ve needed anything before. I watch as his eyes take in this moment, every glance to my lips makes me feel like combusting right here and honestly, it could be a real possibility.

“Oh hell…” I all but growl at Graham, grabbing the lapels of his jacket and pulling him toward me, hard. I hear him chuckle but that quickly stops as I crash my lips onto his, feeling the contradiction of his rough stubble compared to his impossibly soft lips.

Our bodies pressed together, inhaling heavily as our lips touch after waiting so long for this.I can’t breathe…I can’t…ugh.Graham’s hands are on my hips, pulling me closer to him as I deepen our kiss, my tongue sliding into his inviting mouth. Our breathing quickens as I bring my hand to the back of his neck, grabbing a fistful of hair and pulling him as close as humanly possible, the bulge in Graham’s pants now impossible to ignore any longer.

I mean, good, because I’m over here harder than I’ve ever been in my life.

Breaking our kiss, Graham throws his head back, exposing his neck and impressive jaw line, the most satisfying moan escaping his lips. I take this opportunity to plant kisses along his neck, bringing my hand to that impressive bulge and feeling it strain against the fabric of his dress pants. I give it a squeeze.This is mine.

Pulling Graham’s mouth back to mine, claiming his pillow-soft lips and allowing the sweetness of his skin combined with the spiciness of his cologne to fully invade every one of my senses, I whisper between kisses, “I’m going to need you…to come…inside…right now.”

He pulls back just far enough to catch a glimpse of my face, raising an eyebrow at me. “Is that so?” His voice is soft in my ear, but his arms tighten around me.

“100 percent yes,” I say to him as I start shifting our weight toward the door. He squeezes me tighter but then places his hands on either side of my face. I stare into the eyes of the man who literally just took my breath away and left me throbbing at the same time, who made the rest of the world slip away into oblivion and I couldn’t care less. The same man who looks at me like no one ever has before, so intently and sweetly. He plants the softest kiss on my lips, lingering with a tenderness that makes time itself stop to catch its breath.

“That,” he says, his soft but firm lips still pressed to mine, “…that was mind-blowing.” He nuzzles into my neck, wrapping his strong arms around me, as I say a silent prayer that he never lets go. If I had to live in a single moment for the rest of my life, it would without a doubt be this one.

CHAPTERTEN

---