Page 38 of Caught Looking

“Then I want this.” Damn, how I wanted this. Ineededto be wanted, to be desired. No matter how short this lasted, I needed it.

A look of determination flashed behind his soft brown eyes as he nodded once, and then kissed me until my toes curled.

11

SETH

Annalise was heaven in my hands. Her skin was soft and her body so toned. Every muscle had a purpose, honed to provide her with the strength she needed on that field. She was strong but also unmistakably feminine. The combination was my kryptonite. An elite athlete but also so damn sexy.

Kissing her was better than any sex I’d had before. Which said a lot about the meaninglessness of my past. An orgasm felt good. But it wasn’tpleasure. Not like this. Touching for the sake of touching. Earning a gasp…or a moan. Kissing, teasing, the slow build. Every moment felt good. Instead of a few thrilling minutes of madness capped off with seconds of mind-numbing release, it was minutes, maybe hours, of mind-blowing pleasure. And I didn’t even know how it would end yet.

I thought I’d loved Lori. That our sex life was good.

I was wrong.

Being near Annalise was an experience. Feeling her body move against mine as our mouths explored, created an ache inside me I’d never felt before. It was a good ache, but it also made me want so much more.

So. Much. More. “Fuck, you know how to kiss.”

She looked up at me with swollen lips and wide, surprised eyes. “You’re one to talk.”

I ran my thumb over my own swollen lips. “That’s all you, babe. I’m just following along.”

“You’re kidding right?”

“No. I told you, no games with us.”

But she blinked up at me like I had lost my mind. Then she grabbed my shirt and bunched it up in her fists, pulling me until our lips almost touched. “Don’t be modest.”

“Babe, I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I didn’t kiss. It wasn’t a thing I did. A few pecks when a woman first consented? Sure. But never this. I wanted to get lost inside Annalise any which way she’d let me—including kissing.

She shook her head slowly. “Seth Butler, you kiss like a god.”

I couldn’t stop the smile that curled the right side of my lips. Fuck, how I loved it when she complimented me. Mostly because I actually believed what she said. “You like it?”

“So much.”

“I could kiss you forever. Never felt that before.” I let my fingers travel over her face. Annalise had a straight, perfect nose. Her lips were full with two lovely peaks on her top lip. Perfect cheekbones, prominent brows that highlighted her beautiful eyes. Fuck, I could stare at her all day, too.

Damn.

“Can I ask you something?” I wanted her. Fuck, how I wanted her, but I also needed to know how deep to let myself sink. I had a feeling if I didn’t keep my eyes on the shoreline I would get swept away, and when she inevitably woke up and realized she could do so much better than me, I’d be lost at sea. It would be worse than Lori.

“Ask.”

“If Owen left town tomorrow, disappeared, would you still say yes to our next date?” I didn’t know what it was about this woman that had me laying my insecurities bare for her over and over again. It was like I was begging her to flay me alive.

“Seth,” she sighed. A whisper. Maybe even a plea. “Is this real?”

That three-word question rocked me because even though I knew I wasn’t good enough for her, that there was no way this could last, I wanted it. Wanted her any which way I could get her, for as long as she’d let me. “I think so. I know I’m being as real and honest with you as I can.”

“Then yes. If Owen were gone then I’d still want to have late night dinners and early lunches, and—”

I kissed her because I couldn’t wait for the rest. I’d heard what mattered. I didn’t know how long it would take for her to get bored with me, but I was in, all the way in, until that day.

“I’m talking to Rhett tomorrow. I’ll let him know we’re real.”

She shook her head. “I should tell him. He’s my cousin. Plus, he’ll murder you.”

---