Page 84 of Hold Me Instead
“I don’t know what made me launch into that,” she said. They both stared in silence, watching his finger soothe her veins, her knuckles, and her joints. She shivered. Zachary gave her hand a little squeeze.
“I’m really sorry you went through that…Fuckin’ pisses me off.” He released a shaky breath. “I’m trying really hard not to push. Emotional scars can take a while.”
“They do. Time and therapy have been huge.”
“Good.” He waited a beat. “Do I make you anxious?” he asked softly.
Charlie shook her head. She realized she’d been leaning closer and closer, lured by his warmth and comfort.
“You make me nervous,” she admitted, “in a good way.”
Zachary’s eyebrows twitched, then he smiled. “You make me nervous too.”
Charlie pulled her mouth into anO, making Zachary laugh, her playful reaction more a defensive move than anything. When she realized it, she took a deep breath, and decided to go for it. “I…feel good when I’m with you,” she said.
Zachary tucked his fingers between hers, tugging lightly.
“You make me feel good too,” he whispered. Then he pulled his other hand up to grasp behind her neck and kissed her, his lips firm, gentle.
They broke for a moment, and Charlie grinned. “I just want to point out that this all started with me showing lettuce in my teeth.”
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. “You underestimate its power.”
She laughed, but it was muffled when he kissed her again. This time, she kneeled, her body curving over his. Six years ago, Charlie would have been losing her shit, making out with her insanely attractive coworker in their matching work T-shirts like some real-life rom-com. Present-day Charlie was too focused on this inherently sweet, hot man, who listened carefully to every word she said. A man who gripped her with a need she felt in her bones. His free hand roamed her body, sliding toward her ass, but hovered at her waist. She felt his hesitation, and wondering if it was because of their conversation, decided to show him what she wanted. That she was more than okay.
With their mouths fused, she slid one leg over to straddle him, and wiggled her ass into his hands. He squeezed, lifted his head to kiss her deeper, for his tongue to claim her. She rotated her hips and presseddown, unable to stop herself from feeling him hard beneath her. He groaned, his kisses traveling her jaw.
“God, Charlie,” he murmured.
Charlie tilted her head back, then stopped, her eyes landing on Toothless, who sat perfectly, staring directly at them.
She sputtered a laugh.
“What?” Zachary asked, his mouth finding the sensitive spots along her neck.
“Toothless. She’s…entranced.”
Zachary craned his head, laughing when he saw the cat’s curious gaze.
“She doesn’t see much action around here,” Charlie said.
She swore Zachary growled and gasped when she felt his tongue trace her collarbone.
“Should we move?” he asked, right before his mouth took hers again, tongue plunging and tangling and tasting.
Charlie gripped his hair, tugged his ears lightly as she pressed closer. She wanted him. Need coursed through her, desire coiled her tightly. She had to tell him she needed to go slow, as much as her body was leading her otherwise.
His hands slid up her ribs, cupping right below her breasts. He tore his lips from hers and kissed down her neck, and she held her breath in anticipation, gasping when his thumbs brushed lightly over her nipples, their sensitivity skyrocketing. His thumbs went back and forth, her breath coming out in little pants, until his hands grabbed hold her of her breasts, kneading, his groan matching hers.
Jesus,and this wasn’t even skin on skin!
Like he’d read her mind, Zachary’s hands flew down her sides then up under the hem of her shirt, his warmth sending tingles of awareness to her core, his touch gentle and still on her ribs.
She yanked her shirt over her head and tossed it at the couch.
“Fuck,” Zachary groaned, his grip skimming up, fingertips slipping under the fabric of her basic black bra, the backs of his fingers sliding back and forth as they slowly inched closer to her nipples.
Charlie rolled her hips, throwing her head back. When she looked back at Zachary, his eyes were scanning her body, his teeth were digging into his bottom lip, and he looked hungry.
