Page 43 of Embers in the Dark

“Baylee, sorry, but—” I put my coffee down then walk over to her and grab her mug and put it on the counter.

I proceed to grab her and put her on the counter, I move her legs apart, using the opportunity to glide my hands along her thighs. Damn, her skin is soft. I use the pads of my thumbs to massage her thighs, and she moans.

I stand between her legs, then bring my hands up to brush her hair back and then cup her cheeks so that her eyes are on me.

“Baylee—yes, I’ll take you on a date, but I dictate where we’re going. I think I’ve known you long enough to know what you like.” I give her a small smile.

“You don’t know this side of me though,” she says back, gripping my shirt with her small hands.

“That may be true. And likely we have no chemistry whatsoever,” I tell her as I bring my face even closer to her, bringing our noses to touch. I can feel her breath on me.

“Maybe we should see if it’s even worth a date then,” she goads me.

“Not a bad idea.” I take that as an invitation to nibble her bottom lip as I keep my hands on her cheeks. She’s using her hands to pull my body closer to her.

But, in true Baylee fashion, she doesn’t back down; she goes all in. She tilts her head and opens up for me. The minute our lips connect, it’s like she’s my next breath. It feels like all the reasons I gave myself for us not to be together melt away, because this is my only purpose in life. Our tongues intertwine and I deepen the kiss.

We both moan and I feel her bring her arms up along my sides, where I feel my muscles constrict when she glides her fingers up the contours of my abdomen. I want to devour her right here in my kitchen.

I pepper kisses along her jaw and move down her neck. She moans as I trail toward to her collarbone. If I had the time, I would rip this shirt and devour her, dropping kisses on every inch of her.

“Fuck, Baylee, I don’t think chemistry is a problem,” I tell her.

“No, definitely not a problem,” she responds, then pulls my face back to hers. She kisses me again. I could lose myself in her for hours.

I have to pull myself from her and it takes everything in me to stop what we’re doing.

“Bay, I have to go or I’m going to be late.” I close my eyes and wish I didn’t have to leave right now.

She’s panting and nodding. “Okay. I guess it sucks to be you right now.” She’s laughing and looking down at the tent in my pants.

“Don’t remind me.” I laugh uncomfortably.

“At least I have time to take care of business before my class,” she taunts me.

“Don’t tell me things like that.” I lean my head into the crook of her neck.

“Hey, I’ve gotta leave you with something while you’re on shift.” She laughs.

“That’s evil, Baylee.” I bite her neck softly. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow. It’s a date, then?” I pull away to look into her eyes.

“Sounds good. I’m done at four.” She bites her lip, looking shy all of a sudden.

I use my thumb to pull her lip from her top teeth. “Sounds good. I’ll see you then. I guess you have to end things with your new guy, Jacob.” I kiss her nose.

“Oh, Jacob was never interested in me.” She hops off the counter and smooths her skirt.

“Yeah, right,” I respond.

“I promise you, he isn’t. He likes my friend Sydney. You are the one that got all alpha over me. It was super cute to see, though.” She turns around and attempts to grab her coffee.

I move in, caging her in from behind. I sweep her hair tothe side, then whisper in her ear, “Maybe I’ll have you pay for that later.” I see her shiver.

It only registers then that I have to be careful how I speak to her after what she just went through with Myles, so I gently turn her around and make her look me in the eyes.

“Baylee, you know I’d never hurt you, right?”

Her expression changes as she looks up at me. “Tucker, of course I know that.”

---