Summer Breeze Kisses - Addison Moore Page 0,35

the effort. I’m willing to bet every hundred dollar bill I’ve got on the fact this is Izzy’s first massage, and I guess that covers whether or not she’s a virgin. I shake my head at the idea. There’s no way. She’s too damn sweet and gorgeous to have held out this long. Not that I plan on asking for confirmation. That’s one conversation I don’t dare initiate with her. But if it’s true, I’m curious as to why. For sure it’s not something I would have guessed a few weeks ago. Maybe she’s saving it for the wedding night?

“You ever think of getting married someday?” I whisper right over her ear, and both of us freeze. Crap. Really? No freaking filter.

She turns her head. “Are you proposing?”

“Only if you’re about to say yes.”

She laughs, and her back bounces. “How about I take a rain check. I haven’t quite mastered the fine art of dating. I think I should cross one relationship threshold at a time.”

Can’t pretend like I’m not happy about the rain check.

“How about you?” She turns the question around. “Do you hear wedding bells in the not-so-distant future?”

“I don’t know about that.” I took away the chime from my parent’s marriage, so I’m pretty sure that disqualifies me from a happily ever after of my own or at least it should. “Maybe I’ll just wait for you to say yes.”

Her back bounces once again with a laugh. Izzy turns around, pressing those watery blue eyes into mine.

“I’ll tell you a secret if you tell me one.”

My heart stops. Maybe this is it. Maybe she’s about to unleash what’s been eating at her all these years.

I lean in until I can feel her breath on my face, warm and sweet like afternoon sunshine.

“Shoot.”

“I’m not cut out for relationships, Holt.” Her lips press together. She tears up, ready to lose it. I watch as my reflection wobbles in both her beautiful eyes, and it makes me want to cry like a baby myself. “I’m not even close to going there.”

“Me either.” The briefest smile plays on my lips.

A beat of silence thumps by.

“Looks like we’re on the same page.”

“Looks like we are.” I push in closer until our lips are less than an inch apart.

“But just in case.” Her tongue does a quick revolution over her lips. “You think you can teach me a few tricks? I mean if things ever get physical, I’m not sure I’d know what to do.” She eyes my mouth, and I can’t help but smile.

I close my eyes and brush my lips over hers ever so softly. “Like that?”

“I was thinking more like this.” Izzy dives over my mouth as if she’s wanted a bite out of me all night long. But, the truth is, I’m the one who’s been craving her—for as long as I can remember.

Izzy tastes like sugar, so achingly sweet I never want this moment to end. I wrap my arms around her waist and gently pull her closer without ever breaking our stride. Izzy delivers moan after moan, straight down my throat, and I return the favor with longer, stronger groans. Her hands find my waist. Her fingers ride up my shirt, carefully padding along my chest. Izzy moves in slow, easy strides as she explores the landscape. If this were any other girl, I would have long since returned the favor. I’d have both our clothes off, and I’d be ravaging her by now. But this isn’t any other girl. This is Iz. And, if these are the baby steps she needs, I want to be right here to give them to her. In fact, I can stay on this step all night—all year if she wants.

“Holt.” She pulls away just enough to take me in. “I hope you don’t think I’m using you.”

My chest bucks with a quiet laugh. “I promise.” I raise a hand in the air. “It never crossed my mind.” I comb my fingers through her hair. “Do you think I’m taking advantage of you?”

“What? No.” She taps her hand over my chest. “I think we’re just really friendly around one another.” She bites down on her lip. Her features sag for a moment. “And I think you’re beyond nice to put up with a basket case like me.”

“Basket case? What makes you think so?” I’m hoping she’ll take the bait.

She blows out a breath and traces circles over my chest. “I’m not sure I’m ready to go there.”

Progress. The first step to