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Soon, this “date” version of him would evaporate.
And things would return to normal.
I quashed any hope before it could form, despite how much I wanted to cling to it instead, because tonight had felt… real.
And that was the most terrifying part of it all.
“Almost there.”
My head whipped around to search the side of his face, but he offered only a murmured “you’ll see” and an enigmatic smile.
And god, little though I wanted to admit it, he’d been right to leave it a surprise.
He pulled up on a hill overlooking the entire city.
My breath hitched audibly and my eyes pinged open.
Glittering lights danced in the distance, and the crisp winter air nipped at our skin as we stepped out of the car.
The silence hung thick, broken only by the soft purrs of the engine.
“Oh, wow…”
“Stunning, right?” he murmured.
I turned to find him perched on the bonnet, watching me.
My heart kicked like a spooked horse.
Stop looking at me like that, goddamn you…
He flashed me a lazy smile and patted the spot next to him in silent invitation. My footsteps crunched against snow before I sat down, too. His arms banded around my waist, hauling me into his side.
“Josh—” I muttered, in plea or warning, I didn’t know.
Despite my misgivings, my body had a will of its own. I leaned in as something stronger than sense hooked me deep and yanked me toward him.
“Yeah?” His voice turned husky as he mirrored me, inching closer until our chests almost brushed, until his breath warmed my face, and the words died on my tongue.
My gaze caressed his mouth, and a surge of boldness made me close the distance first. The softness lasted for a split-second, before I caught his groan on my mouth, like he’d been holding back.
Without breaking the kiss, he hauled me between his parted legs, and I gripped his shoulders for balance, before cupping the sides of his neck. His hands slipped under my sweater until they whispered over bare, warm skin, sending a flood of goosebumps all over.
A muffled, soft pant escaped me as my fingers grew brave and inched up, tangling in his hair.
The kiss turned more demanding, until nails scraped his scalp, dredging up a sound from deep in his chest—a desperate, hungry one that nearly cut me at my knees.
Familiar, aching heat coiled inside me and soon, I was drunk on him.
He cupped my ass, yanking me flush with his warm, hard body, fingers kneading my flesh. My mouth swallowed his guttural, primal groan while my body responded instinctively, arching against him as though it wanted to crawl inside his ribs.
He pulled back, panting, eyes dark, almost ravenous.
My stomach bottomed out in a dizzying rush.
Even these past three weeks, I’d never seen him like that, as if seconds away from dragging me inside and consuming me whole.
Chapter thirty-one
