Page 107 of Moonshine Kiss
“Psst.” Cassidy strolled past me, pretty in a garnet sweater and navy vest. “Meet me by Mona Lisa’s coop in ten.” Her lips didn’t move, and she wasn’t making eye contact. She took the secrecy part of our relationship to extremes, like she was a teenager sneaking out of the house to meet her boyfriend.
I had to admit. It was hot.
“Hi, Deputy Tucker,” Jonah shouted.
Cassidy turned around and grinned. “Ten minutes,” she mouthed.
I needed to ditch Jonah immediately.
Gibson was still playing. Scarlett was babysitting Devlin’s parents and didn’t need another drunkard to run herd on. That left Jameson and Leah Mae. They were canoodled up against one of the outdoor heaters, starin’ into each other’s eyes like they were glued at the face. I grabbed a bottle of water and another pepperoni roll and towed Jonah in their direction.
“Jonah bet that he could do more push-ups than you,” I told Jameson.
I handed the food and water over to Leah Mae. “Feed him and water him.”
“Where are you going?” Jameson asked as Jonah obligingly dropped down to the sidewalk and started busting out push-ups.
“One. Two. Four…”
“Important vice principal business,” I lied. Jameson caught my drift and gave me the thumbs-up.
I was early and eager. But I’d thought about nothing but touching her all day long.
I paced back and forth in front of the chicken condo and wondered if Mona Lisa was in residence or if she was out enjoying the festivities.
I heard footsteps, and when I saw that flash of red sweater, I reached out and grabbed her.
Cassidy let out a little gasp of surprise that I devoured with my mouth. I’d been so close to her all day. Elbow-to-elbow and yet I couldn’t touch her the way I wanted to. We’d make up for it here in this cozy alley.
I pressed her against the cold brick of the building and kissed her like a man obsessed. She tasted like peach moonshine and starlight, and I wanted more.
Her hands were in my hair, running under my jacket, streaking under my shirt, seeking skin, contact. We’d been deprived for so long. And now we were loved. Whole. Real.
“I love you,” I murmured against her mouth.
“I’m starting to believe you,” she breathed before dragging me down for another kiss.
I leaned into her, holding her against the brick with my hips.
“This is my new favorite position,” she said on a laugh and a sigh.
“Mine, too. Whatever position you’re in is my favorite.”
I shoved my hands under her sweater and found her skin warm and welcoming. She was so smooth and soft. I had trouble believing she was real.
“I used to dream that you’d do this. That I’d walk by and you’d reach out and grab me. Drag me into the dark. Have your way with me,” she whispered.
“Honey, believe me. I thought about it more than a time or two,” I confessed, pressing a kiss to her neck.
I wanted to bite her, taste her, mark her.
“Don’t you dare leave a hickey,” she hissed, reading my mind.
We’d known each other for so long, sometimes I couldn’t separate her thoughts from mine.
She kissed me again with a desperation that drove me insane. So familiar and so new.
“What do you say we go on home?” Cassidy asked, her eyes glassy with need.
