What If You & Me (Say Everything #2) - Roni Loren Page 0,53
no pressure of any kind. Taking it slow with someone I can feel safe with. A friend. That I can watch movies and cook with but also maybe kiss and touch sometimes.” She met his gaze. “And honestly, I don’t know if it would move beyond that. I need you to know that. This is basically going to be…an experiment. I may freak out sometimes. Will probably freak out sometimes.”
“Experimenting.” Enticing images flooded his mind, and he traced his thumb in the tender spot behind her ear. “That sounds kind of amazing.”
“Really?” Her gaze widened, and he almost laughed at her surprise.
“Why do you look so shocked?”
“Because most guys are down for a hookup or even friends with benefits, but that’s because jumping in bed is implied. I’m telling you I may not get to that point. I’m telling you I’ll probably panic sometimes and flat-out reject you.”
He released a breath. “Then most guys are dicks. Andi, someone hurt you and violated your trust. You’re dealing with the aftermath of that.”
She closed her eyes.
“You don’t owe me anything,” he went on. “A kiss can just be a kiss. A touch can just be a touch. I understand it’s not a promise or an invitation for more than that. I understand the word ‘no.’ I understand the concept of slow. Have you seen me walk? I’m a goddamned master at slow.”
She finally opened her eyes and smiled at that.
“Plus,” he said, “kissing, touching, making out like teenagers—those things can feel pretty fucking good all on their own.”
She bit her lip and nodded. “They can.”
“I miss those things,” he admitted, revealing probably more than he should. That he hadn’t kissed anyone since Christina. “It’s been a while.”
“Me too,” she said softly.
He searched her expression. “So, are we doing this, then?”
Resolve came over her expression.
“Yeah, we’re doing this.” Her hands went to the front of his shirt, and then she pushed up on her toes like last night, only this time her lips landed against his mouth. She pressed her lips gently to his. He closed his eyes.
The kiss was sweet and soft, tentative. He kept his hand on her neck, feeling the quickening of her pulse and letting the pleasure of the contact suffuse through him. It’d been forever since he’d experienced that first blush of attraction with someone when everything was new. And it’d been so long since he’d been touched that even the simple kiss threatened to make him hard and hot.
Luckily, she pulled back before he embarrassed himself. She looked up at him, her lips shiny, and she smiled a triumphant smile. “I kissed you.”
He laughed under his breath. “I’m well aware. Every part of me is aware, I think.”
“And I didn’t freak out.” She tipped her chin up, clearly pleased, and patted his chest. “Go, me.”
“Gold star.” He pressed his thumb gently to her forehead like he had a sticker to award her.
“My first werewolf kiss.” She lifted a brow. “Does this mean I’m going to turn at the full moon now?”
He smirked. “Nah, I think I’d have to bite you for that.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself.” She playfully poked him. “This has got to be a Crock-Pot experiment—cooked low and slow.”
He chuckled. “That’s the least sexy analogy I’ve ever heard. We’re a pot roast.”
She sniffed, affronted. “Pot roast can be very satisfying.”
He leaned down and kissed her gently, needing to take his own step forward, but he didn’t linger or push it further. “Yes, it can.”
She rubbed her lips together and gave him a look that damn near melted his insides. “You’re pretty good at that, neighbor.”
“I try.”
She gave his T-shirt a little tug and then stepped backward. “Well, I’m going to get out of your hair. My people will be in touch with your people to arrange our next cook-and-watch. And we still need to take that WorkAround tour.”
“You don’t need to leave, you know.” He jutted a thumb toward the grocery bags. “I could cook us something now.”
She gave him a little smile. “No, I better go. Today’s been a big day. I need some time.”
“Understood,” he said with a nod.
She stepped forward and gave him another quick kiss. “Bye for now.”
He watched her walk out, hips swaying, dress dancing around her legs, and marveled at the turn of events. He didn’t know what strange universe he’d landed in, but he hoped to stay a while.
Chapter Thirteen
Andi perused her DVD collection, trying to find the perfect follow-up to her and Hill’s Halloween marathon. There were