I move my hand from her chin down to her hip, kissing her back with every piece of me. It’s reverent, hungry, and full of everything I’ve wanted to say to her but couldn’t.
“Tiff,” I whisper against her lips, kissing her deeper, wrapping my arms around her frame to pull her closer. She melts into me, her nails digging into my scalp.
“Come on,” she murmurs, taking my hand and leading me into her room, toward the bed.
My feet slow, the implications of this moment finally making my brain work. She turns to look at me when she notices the resistance.
“Are you sure this is something you want to do?” My voice is rough, threaded with want, but I can’t push her further than she wants to go.
If she says no, I’ll just take a freezing cold shower and sleep in the guest room.
Easy, right?
“I want this, Jamie.”
She tips up on her toes, and her lips meet mine again. I lean into her and drag my hands down her body until I’m at her thighs. Then I part her legs as I pick her up, carrying her to the edge of the bed. Her breath catches, and I try to memorize the sound. In fact, I try to memorize it all. The way her mouth parts when I bite her lower lip, the way her fingers drag over my shoulders leaving marks. I want it all—forever.
I drop her onto the bed and plant my hands on either side of her. Her hand comes up to my jaw and for a second, we just take each other in. A redo of the library, only this time, I’m not letting her go.
“Tell me what you want, Tiff.”
“You,” she breathes out with no hesitation. “I want you.”
She reaches up, leaving me with one more chaste kiss before she pushes the strap of her dress off her left shoulder. I can’t help myself, I bend down and kiss the smooth skin there.
Her breath tickles my neck as she leans into the touch, and I kiss her on the mouth one more time before moving to her other shoulder. I take my time, letting the taste of her skin linger on my lips, hoping she knows how much this means to me.
This is it. This is all I want.
Her.
Forever.
She arches her back as I drag my mouth across her collarbone, enjoying every little breathy moan I can draw out of her. Then I raise my hands up her ribs, letting my thumbs brush against the swell of her breasts before I reach around the back of her dress to find the zipper.
My hand rests there for a second, giving her the option to push me away. She doesn’t, and in fact, she wiggles in protest, and a soft little moan escapes her lips.
I drag the zipper down, letting the dress fall to her waist, only to reveal the red lace bra underneath.
“Tiff.” It’s all I can get out because my brain goes blank as I take her in.
“Jamie, please—”
I sink onto my haunches and slide my palms up her ribs until I’m cupping her breasts through the fabric. Then I lean in and drag my tongue over one peaked nipple, wetting the fabric until it clings to her skin. She jolts, and lets out a sharp gasp as her fingers fist in my hair, yanking me closer.
I take my fucking time.
Long, deliberate licks. Slow circles. I suck the stiff peak through the lace until it’s soaked and she’s whimpering. I learn her—every hitch of breath, every arch of her spine, every timeher thighs clench around my ribs. I want to map every sound she makes when she feels good.
When I finally close my teeth around her, she cries my name and locks my head against her chest while her hips grind up in helpless little pulses.
Not moving from her body, I peel the dress the rest of the way off, flinging it somewhere across the room.
Her hand immediately drifts across her stomach, and she turns away.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, lifting up so I can look her in the eyes.
She doesn’t meet mine. Instead, she turns away. “Can we turn the lights off?”