Page 150 of Worth the Trip

The shirt disappeared.

Landon looked at me.

No teasing.

No cleverness.

Just open appreciation.

For one second, old instinct pulled my hand toward the pendant. He caught my fingers and kissed my palm.

“Hershey.” I looked at him. “You are beautiful.”

That was all.

No speech about fear. No instruction not to hide. Just the truth in his face.

I let my hand fall away from the necklace and pulled him down to me.

The kiss deepened. His hands moved over me slowly, learning rather than assuming. Mine did the same, tracing the strength of his shoulders and back until his control slipped into a low sound against my throat.

I smiled.

He lifted his head. “Something funny?”

“You’re less composed than advertised.”

“I never advertised unaffected.”

“You act like it.”

“I’m fighting for my life.”

I laughed.

His mouth found a place that turned the sound into something else entirely.

“That wasn’t fair.”

“I’m not competing.”

“You always competing.”

“Baby, you already said yes. I won.”

“Arrogant.”

“Accurate.”

“Keep talking, and I’ll reconsider.”

“Nah.” He kissed me slowly, then stopped. “Tell me what you want.”

The question changed everything.

I could have joked. Could have hidden inside the version of myself that knew how to be clever when sincerity became too exposed.

I didn’t.