Page 56 of Manors & Mischief

Her cheeks flush. “Well, good morning to you too. I was wondering if you were kicking yourself for not making a move on me the other night.”

“So you thought about it too?”

She walks away, but I spy the smile on her face before she does. “You mean our non-date where everyone in town was rooting for us? Not at all. I already completely wiped it from my memory.”

“I guess I should’ve kissed you. You wouldn’t have been able to erase that.”

“You seem to have a lot of confidence in yourself.” She roots around in the refrigerator and starts bringing out items from the fridge. Eggs, cheese, ham. “Are you good with omelets?”

“Sounds delicious.”

Before she turns back around to peer in the refrigerator again, I grab her hand and pull her toward me. “I’m sorry I didn’t kiss you.”

Her hands settle on my chest. “We probably would’ve had an audience anyway. I think this town is full of stalkers.”

My gaze drops to her lips, then returns to her eyes. I want to kiss her so badly I can’t stand it. For some reason, I hold back. Not sure I’ve done enough to deserve taking our relationship to that next step. “You don’t say.”

“You can stalk me though.”

The hitch in her breath and the fact that she inches forward makes all thought leave my body.

I cradle her head in my palm. “There’s no going back after this.”

She shakes her head slowly.

“Confession.”

“I hope it’s a good one because I’m waiting over here.”

“I’ve been waiting to do this for a long time,” and then I kiss the shit out of her.

Her surprise melts away fast, her mouth giving way to my eager tongue as I sweep inside. Her hands grip my shirt when I pull her close, almost like she sees me as a lifeline which only bolsters my efforts. I groan into her mouth, angling the kiss deeper. My tongue meets hers in a war between two perfectly capable human beings. She gives as good as she gets, my dick straining in my pants as warmth and need fills my stomach and lower.

We come to a natural end, staring at each other before she pulls away. “The whole town will be talking now.”

She’s not wrong about that, but I don’t care. I peer at her swollen lips, and I can’t stop myself from pulling her back into my arms and capturing her mouth in another soul-searing kiss.

When I let up, she’s breathless. “You were right about not forgetting that.”

We both just stand there. Her chest heaves in front of her.

“I might have to walk away before I do something bold.”

“I’m not sure I should ask but I kind of want to.”

“Don’t because I’ll get us both in trouble. A kiss like that…” I shift, feeling the pressure in my balls. Everything in me says to take this to the next step. That she wants this as much as me. I’m about to tell her to go upstairs, strip down, and wait for me on her bed when she steps back.

“Maybe we should just start with that. Just the kiss.”

“Scared?”

“Terrified,” she says, and she grips the counter like she needs it to steady her.

“Sorry if I came on strong. I just can’t keep you out of my head.”

She licks her lips, her gaze dropping to mine, and I can’t stay away again. I grab her, pick her up and set her on the counter as I kiss her, pulling her toward me. She runs her hands through my hair, a small moan slipping into my mouth. I run my hands up and down her back, feeling the bones of her spine and then her breasts as she arches into me.

“Devon…” she gasps, but it’s more of a whine. “This is not fair. I should’ve known you’d be insufferable once I started to like you. You just have to have it your way all the time.”