The Promise of Us (Sanctuary Sound #2) - Jamie Beck Page 0,64
gently playing with the ends of her hair, watching for a sign. Any sign that would bring him relief from all this suppressed want. “That’s exactly what I like about you, Claire.”
He brushed his thumb along her forehead and tucked her hair behind her ear, then traced the cup of her ear and along her jaw, coming to rest on her lower lip. She stared at him, short of breath.
“Logan—”
He pressed his finger to her lips. “Don’t ruin this moment by reciting all of the reasons you think this is a bad idea. Hold those thoughts. Let’s pretend that no one else exists for a while . . .”
He removed his finger, then leaned forward, his lips a hairbreadth from hers. She didn’t move except to close her eyes, a move he took as consent. He lifted her chin and kissed her. She tasted like ripe, sugar-sweetened strawberries, and he wanted to devour her right there on the pavement. “Claire, this feels right, doesn’t it? There’s something here worth exploring.”
“Something more than a one-night stand?”
“Invite me inside,” he said, his voice roughened by desire. He kissed her again, letting his hands glide down to her waist, squeezing it and tugging her closer.
Her breath quickened, and she emitted a slight groan of pleasure.
“I promise I won’t push you anywhere you don’t want to go.”
“That’s the problem. You know I’d probably follow you anywhere, even when I know it’s not in my best interest.”
“I think it is in your best interest. Ditch your preconceived notions and live in the moment. Fling yourself off the proverbial cliff for the thrill of it. You’ll survive it. I promise you’ve survived worse than me.”
“That’s not very romantic.”
“Would you rather I lie and make promises when neither of us knows what the future holds? No one gets guarantees in life, Claire. I only know how I feel right now. Right now, I don’t want this night to end.”
Her eyes glowed like the blue part of a flame as she whispered, “Neither do I.”
He felt his smile spreading as he turned and led her up the porch stairs and waited for her to open the door. He stood behind her, arms wrapped around her waist, and whispered in her ear, “I want you.”
She shook her head in disbelief as she opened the door.
“What?” he asked when they got inside.
“From the very first time I saw you—from a spot behind a tree on the shore near the end of Lilac Lane that first summer we moved to town—I wished to hear those words.”
“I don’t remember meeting you on the beach. I met you at the house, with Peyton.”
“I’d seen you before then on my own, when I was exploring the new neighborhood for the first time. I was south of your property, where you were standing by the water. Shirtless and tan, in gym shorts, and the most beautiful boy I’d ever seen. To this day I don’t know what you were thinking about, but you were gazing at the horizon for a while before you picked up some stones and skipped them across the shallow water.”
“Why didn’t you come out from the shadows?”
She set Rosie aside and unbuttoned her coat. “I was shy. It seemed like I’d stumbled onto something private, and I didn’t want to intrude.”
“Well, don’t be shy now.” He helped her out of her jacket, letting it fall to the ground as he pulled her close again, nuzzling her neck and nibbling her ear, eager to hear that purring sound in the back of her throat.
She wound her arms around his neck, raked her fingers through the back of his hair, and kissed him. “This might be the biggest mistake I’ve ever made, but right now I couldn’t care less.”
“Stop with all the flattery,” he teased, caressing her abdomen and then moving his hand up to her breast. “Now tell me, which way to the bathroom?”
“The bathroom?” Her eyes widened.
“A warm bath will help your hip—warm, steamy air, soft filtered light, and I’m betting you have a nice assortment of bath salts and soaps, too.”
“I’m more of a ‘lights off, under the covers’ kind of girl, Logan.” She looked down, pursing her lips.
He held her close, nudging her chin up. “I promise there isn’t an inch of you I won’t have seen by morning, lights or no lights. Besides, there’s nothing you need to hide from me. I think you’re beautiful, inside and out.”