Page 49 of The Complete Truth Duet
“Talk to me,” he rumbled.
“I…uh…think I’m having some kind of emotional allergic reaction to you buying cupcakes,” I told his shirt.
He didn’t immediately respond. However, when he did, it was not at all what I had been expecting.
A deep, rich laugh sprang from his throat. It was bold and carefree. The antithesis of everything I knew about Penn. I’d heard him chuckle. I’d heard him attempt to muffle a laugh. But this was…different.
This was beautiful.
Slowly, and without concern for any tears that might still be showing, I tilted my head back to enjoy what would surely be a spectacular show.
At the movement, he looked down at me, a wide smile splitting his lips. “You’re crying over cupcakes?”
“I wasn’t crying. I was just…having a moment.”
Using his thumb, he wiped under my eye and then lifted it so I could see it. “Then I should probably warn you that you’ve sprung a leak.”
I huffed with mock frustration. “Fine. Consider it a medical condition like that thing with your mouth. Which I’d like to note seems to have developed a new, much noisier symptom.”
He winked. “I’ll keep your secret if you keep mine.”
“Deal.” I started to push out of his arms, but he shook his head and gathered me tighter.
“Nuh-uh. We need to talk.”
Those words usually struck fear into me. Conversation meant questions. And, more often than not, questions meant I had to lie. But, considering he was still smiling and I was utterly content to stand in his arms for however long he wanted to hold me, I didn’t put up a fight.
“About what?”
He glanced down the hall. “Where are the girls?”
“They’re watching movies on the second floor with—” I paused when a thought dawned on me. “Wait…did that cost you cupcakes too?”
“No. That cost me cash.”
“Penn!”
“What?” He laughed again and I’d been absolutely right, it was spectacular to witness. “I couldn’t risk getting roped into another non-date musical. Don’t think I didn’t see Chicago on your shelf last night.”
I circled my arms around his neck. “Wow. All that to avoid seeing Catherine Zeta-Jones naked.”
“She gets naked?”
I shrugged. “I guess you’ll never know.”
Burying his face against my neck, he burst into laughter all over again.
I let myself go and started laughing too. I used him for balance, and he more than took my weight.
And then he really took my weight.
I squeaked when he lifted me off my feet and carried me into the kitchen.
“What are you doing?” I asked, still lost in hilarity when he sat me on the counter next to the sink.
My legs opened and he didn’t delay in moving between them like it was the most natural thing in the world. And maybe it was. Though the nerves in my stomach were fluttering at full tilt. I kept my hold around his neck while he bent, put his hands on the counter on either side of my hips, and leaned in close. As in super close. Like we were breathing the same air. Not that I was actually breathing or anything.
My mouth dried as those blue eyes of his, which were no longer carrying the weight of the world, met mine. They were bright and sparkling with excitement even in the dull florescent lighting. “I have a surprise.”
“What kind of surprise?” I whispered. “Is it better than cupcakes?”
“I thought so, but then you cried. So, now, I’m not sure.”
I pinched his shoulder. “Hey! Secrets, remember?”
“Right. Sorry.” He looked down, but it was impossible to hide a grin that big.
I loved every second of knowing that I was the one to put that on his face.
“Close your eyes,” he ordered.
“How about I keep them open?”
His large hand cupped the back of my neck, and his nose brushed mine. “Eyes closed or no surprise.”
Forget the butterflies—a stampede of elephants took up residence in my belly. Licking my lips, I followed his direction and dropped my lids.
And then, much to my dismay, he disappeared.
My shoulders sagged. “Uh…Penn?”
“Nope. Keep ’em closed,” he said from somewhere nearby. In the background, there was a metal squeaking like he was twisting a screw.
“Can I at least have a clue?”
“Well,” he murmured as he blessedly resumed his position between my legs. “It’s wet and warm.” His voice grew husky as his hands landed just above my knees and then coasted up my thighs. I gasped when they stopped at the hem of my shorts, but not before his thumb slipped under the fabric, gently teasing in circles. “I’ve wanted to give you this since the moment we met. To rain it over every inch of your smooth skin and dampen your perfect lips.”
Chills exploded across my body, and my heart picked up a marathon pace. My throat closed as I waited for his mouth to find mine. His tongue to sneak out, urging my lips to part before starting a slow and dizzying rhythm.
