we graduated and went our separate ways. I don’t like it. I’m hoping the two of us can come up with a new plan so we’re not apart any longer.”
Caleb licked his lips when Elena met his gaze. He couldn’t stop himself from reaching up and tucking a loose lock of hair behind her ear. “I hope you and Layla can find some way to bridge the gap.” And then he grinned and widened his eyes. He knew his next words were evil. “Hey, I have an idea. You can both move here.”
Elena giggled. God, he loved that sound. She set her hand on his chest and shoved playfully, but she didn’t remove it. The air around them changed. Her expression fell into something more serious. His did too.
Finally he couldn’t stand another moment without tasting her, and he cupped her face and slowly leaned forward, giving her plenty of time to deny him before his lips were on hers.
The first soft touch was heaven. The second one was even better. And then he angled his head to one side and really kissed her. Gently at first, and then when she didn’t stop him, with more pressure. When he licked the seam of her lips, she whimpered deliciously against him.
Did she know her body leaned forward? Did she know she was fisting the front of his shirt?
God, she was so fucking perfect. He set his free hand on her shoulder and continued kissing her. If he never made it past first base but was permitted to remain right here lip-locked with her for the rest of his life, he would be happy.
Finally, he reached for the album and slid it to the coffee table without a glance. He continued to hold her face with one hand as he turned his body to more fully face her. He needed more contact. More of anything she would give him.
When he slid his hand down to her waist and she didn’t resist him urging her to lie back, he thanked the heavens. When he came over her, pressing his body against her smaller one, he moaned. She was soft in all the right places but not fragile.
One of her hands came around his neck and threaded in the back of his hair. The other landed on his back, her fingers splaying wide. She pulled him closer.
He knew she wasn’t fully in control of her reactions. That’s how mating worked. He wouldn’t let this go much further because he didn’t want her to regret it later. But God, for now, he just wanted more of anything she would give him. Her mouth. Her sweet hands. The way her chest rose and fell against his. Their heart beats fell into sync. Did she notice?
He kissed her forever. Time stopped. Every little nip and taste filled a void in him. Every tiny whimper from her made his cock stiffer and his heart soar.
She was everything.
Finally, when he knew he had to stop or risk losing control, he released her and lifted his head several inches. He stared down at her. Her cheeks were dark. Her lips were swollen. Her eyes were glazed.
She swallowed. “Shit.”
He smiled. “That’s not the reaction I was hoping for.”
She gave him a grin. “It wasn’t a bad shit. More of a holy shit.”
“Ah. If that’s a good thing, I’ll take it.”
She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. “It’s hard to resist you.”
He lowered his face to her neck and nuzzled her, inhaling her scent as he trailed his nose to her ear. He nibbled on the lobe playfully. “It’s nearly impossible to resist you.”
“I…”
He lifted his face and smoothed his hand over her cheek. “What, Elena?”
She flushed and glanced away. “I don’t move this fast with men.”
“No one is rushing you.”
She glanced away and then back. “I feel rushed. I didn’t want you to stop. I would have let you strip my clothes off and fuck me right here on the couch without a single thought to how inappropriate that would be, or Layla and Hunter could have walked in on us, or we don’t even have protection, or…”
He set a finger on her lips. She was adorable in her panic. “Shh. I stopped. I was well aware.”
Her breathing was heavy. “You stopped.”
“Yes. I’m not going to pressure you.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Did you feel what I felt?”
“God, baby. Way more than you did. Yes. Don’t doubt that.” He stroked her face again.
“But you stopped.”
He couldn’t help but chuckle as he rose