Page 143 of The Odds of Happily Ever After
I raised an eyebrow. “No. In the next couple of months.”
“Seriously?” She beamed. “That would be amazing. We can take turns driving on road trips!”
“It’s a plan.” I reached for her tote bag, but she pulled away from me and tsked.
“Not this time. You’re the one with the luggage. Did you want to eat somewhere? I packed some food for you, but?—”
“Perfect. How about my place?”
When she grinned this time, my breath hitched in my chest. “Finally,” she said. “It only took you forever to invite me back.”
luna
The last timeI was in Gabe’s apartment, I’d been too worried about his fever to appreciate the converted warehouse’s design. Now I stood in the center of the living area and took in thedetails of the open space with its exposed brick and beams, concrete floors, and high ceilings.
“I didn’t get to tell you before, but I love your place.” It was beautiful without being flashy, modern and clean without being lifeless. He probably had a stunning view of the night sky, too, with his massive windows overlooking the river.
Gabe just kept looking at me. “I love it more with you here.”
“You should be careful about what you say,” I teased. “I might never leave.”
His brows rose. “Fine by me.” His eyes tracked down my body. “You’re wearing the shirt I gave you.”
I came up to him, stopping just short of making physical contact. “It’s my favorite.”
“It looks good on you.”
“Thanks. I bet it would look good on your floor too.”
His eyes blazed as they stared into mine. “Are you coming on to me?”
“If you’re asking, then I’m doing it wrong.” Laying my hand on his pec, I smiled at him.
He inhaled, his chest shuddering beneath my touch. “Luna.”
“I love the way you say my name,” I told him, drawing my hand up his neck to play with the curls at his nape. “You make it sound musical.”
He put his palms on my hips, the warmth searing through my top. “You make mine sound like it matters.”
“Becauseyoumatter to me, Gabe. You always have, even when I told myself I shouldn’t think about you because you were a jerk.”
“I believe you used the termass.” His touch moved higher, following the curve of my side. “Don’t censor yourself now.”
I shrugged. “I used both interchangeably.” Smiling, I stepped so close that we were chest to chest. “I love you.”
His gaze softened. “I love you, too, Luna.”
Experimenting, I lightly scratched my nails across his scalp. He inhaled sharply, his fingers flexing, and yet he didn’t make a move.
So I said, “When I agreed to go slow, I didn’t mean glacial, Gabe. Go ahead and kiss me already.”
The corner of his mouth lifted, and my body buzzed with anticipation. “Since you asked so nicely.”
gabe
Sinking my fingersin her hair, I angled her head so I could kiss her deeply. My mouth fit over hers like it belonged there, responding to her demands as naturally as breathing. She pressed against me, our bodies so close that I felt the pounding of her heart as if it was my own.
It felt like decades since I last had her lips on mine. I savored the freedom of having her this way, taking my time understanding the rhythm she responded to the most. Soon, her kiss grew more insistent, her lips parting on a sigh. She welcomed my tongue with a moan that lit a fire through my veins, and this time I tasted nothing but Luna.
