Page 126 of The List
“You want normal?”
“I want—” She paused, and her shoulders sagged with her head bowing. He pushed up from the stairs and stood behindher, hooking his arms around her waist and pulling her back against his chest. Addison went willingly, clasping her hands over his.
He brushed his lips over her ear and whispered. “What do you want?”
“I want to be safe.”
“You are safe.”
“I didn’t feel that way today.”
He ground his teeth and inhaled a breath. Promising her that would never happen again would be a lie. He wouldn’t do that. If she wanted a life with him, she deserved to know exactly what it entailed. If she wanted to leave then…
Fuck, no!
He hugged her closer. “Our normal will look different. Our life will be different than most people. It’ll be better.”
She snorted. “Better, huh?”
“I’m gonna make it that way. Give you whatever you want.”
“I want you to come home to me every night. Can you promise that?”
Realistically, no.But no one could. There were no guarantees in life. No one knew that better than Cross. But he could promise he’d do everything in his power to be with her until his last breath.
“Yeah.”
She rested her head against his chest, sliding her fingers over his knuckles, staring off into the yard.
“I’m going to hold you to that promise.”
And I’ll do my best to keep it.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Addison reached behind her back, blindly clasping her bra. Well, she tried, but Cross had other ideas. He nudged her hands away, and then slid his palms over her waist and up to cup her breasts.This man and his hands.
“You’re not gonna need that.” His warm breath fluttered over her ear, and she dropped her head back into the crook of his neck. The pads of his fingers teased her nipples, and she relaxed into him, closing her eyes.
Round three?
They’d been holed up in his room for the last few hours while the party raged in the clubhouse.
“Is this your way of saying you want me to walk around the party without a bra?”
He laughed, skimming his teeth over her ear lobe. “That’s my way of saying you’re not leaving my fucking room.”
It sounded like a plan she could get behind. However, she’d been spending most of her time with Cross and promised Cleo they’d hang out at the party.
His hand splayed over her stomach and dipped into her panties. She’d already come twice, but her body was being greedy, swiveling her hips as he teased her clit.
“Cross” —she moaned— “I promised Cleo.”
He hummed in her ear and slowly dipped his finger inside her. Addison gasped, arching her back. He was not playing fair. When she turned her head, his lips came down on her hard, and he sank his tongue into her mouth. She would never grow tired of kissing this man. And in a strange turn of events, she’dprobably refuse to speak to him for weeks, possibly months, if he ever shaved off his mustache.I’m obsessed. The bristly hairs scraped over her upper lip, and she moaned into his mouth, deepening the kiss.
“She can wait,” he muttered against her lips and sunk another finger inside her. “Can you?”
No!Addison spread her thighs for deeper access. His thumb strummed over her clit only adding to her overwhelming need.I’m so damn close.
