“So fucking perfect.” His voice is growly with lust as he rocks into our hands.
“Yes,” I breathe. With an uttered curse, he erupts, hot and thick in my fingers. I look down, mesmerized and turned on all at once as he paints the tile and bottom of the tub. Renewed desire coils in my core, and I almost laugh. Is there anything about this man that doesn’t get me hot?
Breathing fast, CJ goes still behind me, one arm wrapped around my middle, keeping me close. He presses a kiss to my shoulder while the water cascades down. I bring my fingertips to my lips, unable to stop myself from tasting the mix of us. It’s salty and earthy and a little sweet. Not exactly delicious, but I’m going to crave it when this is over. I’m for sure going to crave his arms around me like this, his breaths expanding his rib cage against my back, his confidence, his warmth.
With a groan, he eases me back so the water hits my chest and spills down my stomach and thighs. Using some soap, he runs hishands all over me, washing me clean. I do the same to him, pausing to kiss and caress until the water runs tepid.
We dry off inside the steamy space, and then he pulls me close. I shut my eyes and make a wish that my heart is telling me the truth.
Because I’m falling for him. It’s already happened in a dozen ways, despite my efforts to resist. I should care more. This is my heart we’re talking about.
But I’m like a boulder tipped off the mountainside, rolling faster and faster. I don’t think I could stop if I tried.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Getting dressed is awkward,and when we head down the hall, the sounds coming from the loft make it even more so.
CJ takes my hand and pulls me close, his concerned gaze meeting mine. “I can take you home.”
“Yeah, I think that’s best.”
When his face calms, it quells the growing storm inside me, but not for long. Because where do we go from here? What about him and Dad? What about our work life? If I thought Keith was a patronizing neanderthal before, just wait until he finds out I’ve been messing around with a coworker.
Though it feels like a lot more than justmessing around. How did I get myself into this?
CJ takes my face in his hands and leans closer. “Hey, where’d you go just now?”
“Nowhere good,” I say, trying for humor.
He kisses my forehead, and I lean into it with a sigh.
The sounds from upstairs get more distinct, so I’m grateful CJ grabs my coat and helps me into it. Outside, CJ shuts the door softlywhile I wind my scarf around my neck. Fluffy snowflakes drift down, thick and silent. I grin up at the sky, delighting in the way the snow sparkles in the warm glow from the streetlights.
We descend the steps and follow the gravel drive to his Dodge, parked behind Bear’s truck and Maryanne’s Subaru.
He reaches for my hand. It’s big and warm, those calluses reminding me of the care and confidence in his touch. A rush of heat vibrates beneath my skin.
“Are you a winter person or summer?” he asks.
“I like them both, but spring is my favorite.”
“Because…?”
“All the good things happen in spring. The trees and flowers bloom. The air smells sweet. The trails and high mountain passes melt out. Everything comes alive.”
Inside his truck, the windows are fogged up and it’s icy cold. After CJ starts the engine, we both get out to wipe the windshield clear of the new snow.
He shoots me a playful scowl. “Get back in where it’s warm.”
“I can help,” I protest.
He lobs a snowball at me. It’s too loose to have any real impact, but the explosion of powder at my shoulder gets into my mouth and falls in between the layers of my scarf, making contact with my neck.
I pack a good one from the snow on his hood and throw it, but he ducks, and it whizzes past him. So I try again, hurrying around to his side of the truck, but he ambushes me with a bear hug, lifting me off my feet. I shriek but he dives for my neck, licking and kissing gently. His tongue is so warm and soft where his snowball chilled me that I groan.
He carries me to my side and sets me gently on my feet. Then he opens my door and helps me up, giving my hand a parting kiss before carefully closing the door. It’s enough to make my heart flutter into my throat.
“What’s your favorite season?” I ask as he backs into the narrowlane and pulls slowly out of Bear’s neighborhood, the compact snow crunching under his tires.