Page 62 of Break Away
Funny how he knew exactly what she wastalking about. “Yeah, well, so was I.”
“I didn’t want to feel like this.
His aching heart gave a solid lurch. Finally,an acknowledgment. “I agree. It sucks. But we have to deal withit.” He paused. “Where’s Lucy?”
“See?” She pointed a finger at him, steppingforward with a little wobble to jab him in the chest. “That’sexactly what I’m talking about. I don’t want to care about you anymore than I already do, then wham-o, you ask me about my dog and mystupid heart gets all mushy. She’s in the house, by the way,probably sound asleep.”
He frowned when “sound asleep” came out morelike “shound asheep.” He glanced past her. There was no Priusparked in front of her cottage. “You been drinking?”
“That, mister,” which sounded like “mishter,”“is none of your business. But Eva had this really amazing hardcider, and Diego says I’m a lightweight.”
“Okay.” Which told him who she’d been with.He stepped back. “You want to come in?”
She strode past him, nose in the air. Shewore pink stretchy pants with a red college sweatshirt and greenChucks on her feet. The colors clashed and he figured he was agoner if he thought she looked even cuter because of it. Shegestured to the silent TV where a reporter was interviewing theGiants’ pitcher. “See. There’s another reason we’re noncompatible.You like sports. Sports are stupid. A bunch of overpaid jocksgetting overpaid for chasing around a stupid ball.”
“I think you meanincompatible, andyou said overpaid twice.”
She blinked at him. “Did not.”
Figuring it was wise to let that go, he askedher, “How did you get home?”
“Justin brought me. He said I was in nocondition to drive, which is totally untrue. I only let him driveme home because he was making such a big deal about it. Then hesaid you and me should talk, because talking is what grown-ups do.Pfft.” She fluttered her hand in dismissal of Justin’s advice. “I’mnot drunk.”
Levi decided Justin wasn’t such a bad guy,after all. “Honey, you’re toasted.”
“A lot you know. Do you have toast?”
He stared at her. “You want toast?”
“Yes, please, with strawberry jam. I’ll sithere.” She gestured grandly to the couch.
Concluding that he’d had about the strangestconversation ever, Levi left her sitting on the couch watching themuted TV and went to the kitchen to make toast. Since she likedtea, he put water on to heat while he hunted up the bags his momhad brought over. A few minutes later he was carrying a steamingmug and a plate piled with strawberry jam-topped toast into theliving room, stopping when he spotted Zoey, head on a cushion, feetcurled under her, fast asleep. Well, hell.
He set the mug on the coffee table, then satbeside it. He took a bite of toast, chewing as he considered whatto do with her. In the end, he tugged off the Chucks and dragged ablanket off his bed to drape over her. Turning off the TV, he wentto his room, stripped down to his boxers, and crawled into bed.
***
Levi came slowly to consciousness feelingwarm skin pressed against his. The dark curls tickling his nosetold him he wasn’t dreaming. He opened his eyes to the quiet lightof early morning. Zoey was curled around him, legs entwined in his,arm circling his waist, her head nestled on his shoulder. Goodfortune was certainly smiling on him. All he wanted to do was turninto her and do as nature was screaming for him to do, but consenthad been drummed into his head with a metaphorical hammer. Hefigured an ice-cold shower was in order and shifted away. Shetightened her arm and had him going still when he felt warm lipsbrush his chest. Lifting his hand, he finger-combed the explosionof black hair back from her face to find heavy-lidded eyes open andaware.
“Good morning.” Her voice sounded husky, andhe decided right then he’d never heard a sexier sound.
“Good morning back.” He ran his fingersthrough her hair again, the flower scent surrounding him. “When didyou decide to join me?”
“A couple of hours ago. I used the bathroom,got a drink of water, and peeked in here. I had to decide whether Iwould be taking advantage if I joined you.”
“Side note, take advantage any damn time youplease.”
Her smile fluttered even as her hand began toslide through the hair on his chest. “It was nice to fall asleeplying next to you.”
“I think you can tell how I feel about that.”His erection was throbbing where it rested under her thigh. Herhand drifted in its exploration of his chest, moving along his pecsand across his ribs.
He tugged off the sweatshirt she still wore,freeing him to do his own exploring. He unclipped her bra, thenburied his face between her breasts, using his thumb to tease anipple before following the movement with his mouth. He groanedwhen she wrapped her hand around his erection and thrust into herhold. “Hell yeah, baby, keep doing that.”
She did better than that. Shimmying down hisbody, she gave him a sultry look as she took him in her mouth. Hecouldn’t help the involuntary jerk, but she didn’t release herhold, only pulling him farther in. “Holy Jesus, you’re good atthat.”
He lay back, never losing sight of her whilehe let her work her magic, the pleasure pulsating through him,until he was on the brink of losing control. She released him andhe reached for her, tugging her pants down and off, then turningher onto her back. It was his turn to use his mouth, licking her,loving her, building the tension until she was panting hisname.
She pulled on his hair. “I want you in me.Now.”
