his skin. “I really want you to kiss me,” I reply, knowing it’s one thousand percent fact.
“Are you sure?” His eyes search mine, looking for validation.
“Definitely.” There’s no blurred friends line anywhere near us. I’m pretty sure we passed it a long time ago, but I wasn’t ready to see it or admit the truth. I do want Chase and probably always have. Yes, there are unanswered questions, and yes, there are valid concerns, but at the end of the day, I just want to feel this man’s lips against mine and not care about what comes next.
Day by day.
That’s how we’ll take it.
He moves a fraction of an inch closer. If I were to just lift my mouth a hair, we’d be touching, but I don’t move. I wait for him. “Gabrielle, if I kiss you, I don’t think I can go back to the friend zone,” he warns.
“Chase, I don’t want to be in the friend zone either. I want to see where this leads,” I confess. He stares back at me with wide, hopeful eyes. “You took a chance on me and told me all about your past, so I’m ready to take a chance on you too.”
His eyes close as if he’s savoring the words I said. When they open, there’s a little happiness mixed with desire. “I promise not to hurt you.”
“You can’t promise that.”
“I can, and I do. I promise, baby. You’re safe with me.” Chase lets go of my hands and brings his up to cup my face. His thumb is gentle as he caresses my jaw and turns his head ever so slightly. “I’m going to enjoy the hell out of kissing you,” he adds just before his lips graze gently across mine.
A cat purrs, but then I realize it’s just me. I’m actually purring as he applies a bit more pressure with his skillful lips, taking this kiss from nice and sweet to holy shit! His tongue is warm as he coaxes open my mouth and dives inside, stroking expertly against mine. His hands are still gripping my face, his thumb gliding down the column of my neck. This is, hands down, the best kiss of my life.
Passionate, yet unhurried.
My body burns with need, my panties pretty much useless. Shit, that’s pretty much the state they’re in anytime he’s around. Inept little scraps of material that I would love to see him take off… with his teeth.
I gasp for air, but Chase doesn’t pull back. Instead, he slowly drags his full lips down my chin, raining open-mouthed kisses on my flushed skin as he goes. When he reaches the hollow of my throat, I feel his tongue lapping against my skin, and I swear my entire body is practically levitating off the blanket.
When his eyes finally lock on mine, I see the fire burning brightly in his blue eyes. I don’t care that we’re in public or that we just decided like two minutes ago to give this—whatever this is—a try. I’m ready to throw caution to the wind and my panties in the water and take.
Take him.
“I want more,” I whisper into the quiet of the night.
Chapter 8
Chase
My body is on fire. I feel her everywhere, yet she’s still not close enough. Her whispered confession pulls me out of my Gabby-induced fog. “More of what, baby? I need you to tell me.”
“You. This. Everything. I just want more” is her breathy reply.
“You said you want to see where this goes, and I want that. More than anything I want that. But if this is… more than just kissing, it’s not just more; it’s everything. You’re mine.”
Her eyes widen at my words, but she doesn’t argue them. “Okay” is her softly whispered confession into the night. One word causes my heart to pound like a bass drum in my chest.
When I lean forward, she has no choice but to lie back on the blanket. I rest my weight on one elbow and the other slides under the hem of her shirt. I’m greeted with the softest, smoothest skin I’ve ever felt. “You’re beautiful.” My confession has a small smile gracing her lips. “So soft,” I murmur, letting my hand roam over her ribs. Bending farther, I press my lips to hers. Lazily, my tongue swipes at her bottom lip, and when she opens for me, I take my time tasting her. I’ve wanted her like this for too damn long. I need to savor her. Savor this moment.
She turns on her