Series Starter Firsts in Series Collection - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,234

kiss grows more passionate.

I have to stop this before it goes any further. Placing my hands against his chest, I push lightly. He slows the kiss and eventually pulls away. “You taste so fucking sweet.”

WOW.

No one has ever talked to me like that before, never lost themselves in the passion of just being next to me, kissing me. “I was afraid if I didn’t stop you, I wouldn’t,” I confess.

“When you decide to let me inside you, I can guarantee it will not be in my fucking Jeep. You deserve better than that.”

“How do you know? What makes you think I deserve better?” Gah! I wish I could just keep my damn mouth shut.

Resting his forehead against mine, eyes wide open, he says, “Because I see you.” Pulling back, he softly places his lips on mine for a very brief final kiss before reaching for his door handle and climbing out of the car. I watch as he walks around the Jeep and opens my door, offering me his hand.

Chapter 6

Logan

It’s been two days since I’ve seen Michael. He stopped by yesterday, but we were already out and about. He left a note on the door to call him, or stop by when we got in. I made sure we were out the door bright and early and in late, spending the day shopping. I knew he would try to see me, and I’m . . . scared. Michael is a man’s man. He knows what he wants and he’s not afraid to take it. I’m scared to death that if I let things progress between us, he will eat me alive. I confide this in my best friend.

“Yes! Hell yes. That is exactly what you want him to do,” Stacy says.

“Stacy, come on. He would be disappointed, and besides that, I’m not a fling person. I’ve told you this. I just don’t have it in me.”

“You do. You also have all that fear that you’re holding onto. We’ve spent time with him. He’s a good guy. Hell, he called his best friend and had you talk to him. You need to live for you, no one else.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” Michael’s deep voice causes me to shiver. Just the sound of it brings me back to his Jeep and the kiss we shared. I’ve never in my life been kissed with so much passion and need. I’ve never had a kiss turn me on from zero to sixty so quickly either. Mr. Triple T has made kissing an art form. Just another item to add to the long list of why I would disappoint him.

“Michael,” his name slips past my lips.

“Paige.” Nothing else, just my name on his lips.

“I’m going to go get some more ice for the cooler. Be back in a few.” Stacy winks at me and walks toward the house. Traitor.

Michael sits next to me on the sand. “Why are you avoiding me, Paige?”

“I’m not,” I lie. “We’ve just been busy.”

“I call bullshit, beautiful. I can see it in your eyes.”

I’m just going to throw it out there, so he can move on, so we both can. “I’m not as . . . experienced as you, and flings are not really my thing. Not only would I be out of my comfort zone, but knowing that you would be disappointed . . . well, I can’t deal with that. Avoidance is easier.” I cannot believe I just confessed that.

Reaching over, he grabs my hand. “Paige . . . it can only be for the time we’re here, but I would like to think that what we would share between us would be more than a fling. My career is . . . complicated. I wish things could be different. For the first time in my life, I wish things were different, but the reality is they’re not.” He brings my hand to his lips and kisses each of my knuckles. “As far as experience goes, you could never disappoint me. I know how to give your body what it needs to make you respond to me. I don’t want to watch you leave here in two days without knowing what it feels like to be inside of you.”

“Michael, I—”

He places his index finger over my lips. “Don’t deny it, Paige. There’s a burning attraction between us. Let me show you how we can be. We’ll both walk away not with the memory of a fling, but the memory of an amazing night we spent together.”

I want