Page 26 of Stone
Stone stepped closer. “Hey, it’s not supposed to make you sad.”
She tilted her head up to him, shaking her head. “They’re not sad tears. I’m just so happy,” she breathed, leaning up to place a soft kiss on his lips.
Her lips sent a lightning bolt through his system. He’d been fighting himself because Naomi didn’t need an ex-con, but she was here, right in front of him.
“I’ve been trying to be a gentleman and be your friend, but I want so much more. If you don’t want me to kiss you, then turn around and go inside. We’ll still be friends, but I’ll know you don’t want more,” he confessed, swallowing around the lump in his throat at the thought of her walking inside.
A small grin started until she was smiling at him with her eyes dancing.
“I’m not walking inside because I want your lips and so much more, Stone,” she whispered, stepping closer.
Oh, thank fuck. He wasn’t sure how he’d survive her turning him down. He slid his hand behind her neck, grasping her hair, and cupped her face with his other hand, pulling her close.
“I’ve got to taste you,” he murmured as he pulled her closer. His lips touched hers, nibbling until she opened so he could go deeper.
How the hell was he supposed to remember they were outside in front of Locks’ house when everything about her mouth was pulling him under? A small moan escaped Naomi as she pressed herself against him. Her breasts and body just two small pieces of material away from him. He left her mouth to taste the hollow of her neck. Her smooth skin and vanilla scent filling his mind until all he could think about was more.
His hands traveled down her sides until he was pulling her against him. He held back a groan when Naomi’s hands slid under his shirt and cut to touch his skin. He tugged Naomi’s nightgown to the side to trail kisses across her collarbone.
“Oh, what is—” Naomi gasped, pulling back.
“Lilly, come back here!” Flick yelled.
Stone pulled back to see that Lilly had dropped a wet ball on Naomi’s bare foot.
“Oh, so sorry,” Flick apologized, walking closer. “Lilly, get your butt over here and leave them alone.”
Seeing the blush filling Naomi’s cheeks, Stone stepped in front of her.
“Hey, Flick, just back from a shift?” Stone asked.
“Yes, Lilly was too rambunctious to let me sleep. Sorry we disturbed you,” Flick apologized again.
“It’s okay. I need to go back in. I don’t want the girls waking and not being able to find me. The drawing is perfect, Stone. Will you add the colors so I can see what it will look like later?” she asked.
Stone nodded. “Yes,” he agreed, not knowing if she would want him to kiss her goodbye.
“Thank you.” She leaned up to kiss him quickly before turning and running into the house.
Stone stood staring at the closed door for a minute.
“Seems like that’s going well. Want to come over for a beer?” Flick offered.
Stone turned. “Sure.”
Stone walked over to Flick’s with him.
“Beth still gone?” Stone asked.
“Yes. If I hadn’t had a shift, I would have joined her for the weekend. She got the job and started yesterday. She placed some listening devices and said that she might have something as early as Monday,” Flick explained, grabbing a couple beers from the refrigerator and handing one to Stone.
“Let’s kick back in the recliners. I’m beat. We had non-stop calls,” Flick groaned, kicking one of the recliners back.
“She’s not by herself, is she?” Stone pressed. He knew that Beth was capable of taking care of herself, but no one should ever be without backup. His gut was churning whenever he thought about Jared.
“No, Ellie is helping her,” Flick reassured him, then looked at his phone when it beeped.
“Seriously, these women,” Flick muttered, turning the phone toward Stone.
