Page 97 of Chasing After You
“Thanks for the dance, Andrew,” I say, leaning up to press my lips in a chaste kiss on Andrew’s cheek.
He laughs, a booming sound from his chest. “I think I like you. I hope you’re planning on sticking around,” he says and I move closer to Henry, slipping my hand into the back pocket of his jeans.
“Not planning on going anywhere.”
“Andrew, you can go somewhere else now. Literally anywhere but right here,” Henry says and I’m trying not to read too much into this. He’s jealous. I mean, I know he was jealous of Quinn, but to be jealous of his best friend? Maybe I’m just too far gone at this point, or Henry might actually have feelings for me. Is that insane to think?
I look up at Henry, beaming like a ray of fucking sunshine. “You’re jealous,” I tease, and Henry looks down at me, his eyes scanning my face before landing on my mouth.
“Damn straight I’m jealous,” Henry grumbles, leaning down to kiss me. His hand slides up my neck to the curve of my jaw, the feeling of his touch forever imprinted on my soul. Henry brushes his thumb over my lower lip, and I hold my breath waiting to see what he does next.I hope he kisses me.“These are mine,” he says, looking me in the eye so I can see how serious he is.
“Okay,” I agree. I’d agree to anything Henry says right now. Actually, that’s not much different from usual, but I feel a lot less argumentative.
“Mine to kiss, mine to touch, and mine tofuck.”
Oh my god, thank you Andrew for testing your theory so I get to see this side of him.The expression on his face tells me this isn’t Henry putting on an act for everyone else in the room. “Then I guess you better kiss me.”
Henry doesn’t need to be told twice, pressing his lips roughly to mine. This kiss is possessive and greedy, taking everything I have to give, and then more. I love him. I want more. Henry sucks my lower lip into his mouth and I moan quietly, feeling this kiss throughout my entire body. He pulls away, sliding his fingers through my hair. “You said something about a birthday present?” he asks, pressing another short kiss that isn’t helping my brain function any better.
“Having a birthday party without the birthday boy makes this just a party,” I say, trying to catch my breath.
“It’s my birthday, and I’d rather be with you than talking to anyone here,” Henry answers, and my heart explodes into fireworks inside my chest.
There’s a wolf whistle near us and I turn to see Henry’s teammate, Tyler, wagging his eyebrows at us. “Get a room, guys.”
“That’s the plan,” Henry calls back, smirking at him, whereas Andrew gives me a thumbs up.Don’t read too much into this.
“I think I like your friends,” I add, following Henry back to the table.
“I think I like them better when they’re not dancing with you.”
~
I almost wish I’d had a third drink for extra courage before we left.
The tension in the air is thick as Henry tosses his keys onto the table by the door, and I swallow the lump in my throat. But then he looks at me, and I forget all my anxiety about doing the right thing, saying the right thing, and whetherIwill be enough.
All of it disappears into thin air because Henry is looking at me like I’m the answer to his goddamn prayers.
We’re a collision waiting to happen, staring at each other to see who is going to make the first move.
Keeping my eyes locked on Henry’s, I move to undo the strap of my stiletto, but he shakes his head. “Keep them on, please,” he says roughly.
“It’s your birthday, whatever you want,” I say, straightening.
I’m not sure who takes the first step, but the space between us shatters when we crash together. Henry’s hands are all over me, refusing to leave a single part unmarked. My gold dress falls to the ground, leaving me in my white lace lingerie as I fumble with his shirt, trying to push it up so I can feel his skin pressed against mine in the best way.
“Unreal,” Henry mumbles against my lips, as he grips my hip tightly.
“Take it off,” I say, dragging my nails gently over the defined ridges of his abdomen. He’s flawless. Henry’s fucking perfect.
Henry pulls back and I hate the loss of his body against me, but the sight I’m rewarded with makes it a little more bearable. “So much better than through a screen,” I say, chuckling as I step closer, resting my hands on him again. He inhales, placing his hands on my lower back to pull me flush against him again. I can feel how hard he is through his clothes, and I think this is better than I ever could have imagined.
“Way better,” he agrees, his mouth turning upward as I run my hand over his chest decorated in ink before sliding both hands around the back of his neck.
“Happy birthday, Henry,” I say, and his face softens.
“Thanks,mon cœur,” Henry says, kissing me sweetly. It’s slow, contradicting the rapid heart rate in my chest, but it feels right. It feels like we’re getting to know each other differently than we have during any of the times we’ve kissed before. He pulls back, cupping my jaw, and I’m impressed by his control, because I’m ready to jump Henry’s bones, or I guess, just one in particular.
