Page 22 of Next Time We'll Fall

“There was a time when you didn’t feel so icky, being around me.”

“Well, those days are long gone,” she says. “Thanks for the ride home, and I’ll see you later.”

She jumps out of the car, but I jump out as well and head with her toward her front door.

“What are you doing, Rafe?”

“I’m walking you to your door, like any gentleman would.”

“But—”

“Don’t tell me you’re going to say I’m not a gentleman.”

“You don’t need to do that. I walk to my door by myself every night.”

“I know,” I say as I continue walking alongside her.

She grabs her keys and stops and looks at me.

“Thank you,” she says, offering me a warm smile that makes my heart race. There’s something familiar about the look in her eyes that reminds me of bonfires at the beach and late nights watching movies with buttery popcorns. She’d practically lived at our house. “I know I’ve been annoyed with you, but I do appreciate you looking out for me most of the time.”

“You’re welcome,” I say.

My eyes stare into hers. I reach over and touch the side of her face, and because I can’t help myself, I lean forward and gently kiss her cheek. She looks at me in surprise. Then I glance at her lips. I press mine against hers, and she kisses me back softly, her fingers at the nape of my neck. As I press her against the front door, she moans against my lips. I slide my hand up her shirt and touch her cool skin. She shivers slightly against me. I press myself into her and continue kissing her, and she murmurs against me. I want to take her inside the condo, into her bedroom.

I want her to continue the show she was putting on earlier. But then I stop because I realize where we are and what I’m doing and I step back.

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have done that,” I say, looking at her quivering lips.

Her nostrils flare as she glares at me.

“You really shouldn’t have.”

She pushes her hand against my chest, and I catch it and squeeze it.

“Did you not enjoy it?”

“Whether or not I enjoyed it is not the question,” she says, licking her lips nervously.

“Well, I enjoyed it,” I say softly and issue her a small wink.

She blushes slightly and shakes her head.

“Well, I mean?—”

“You mean what?” I say.

“Nothing.”

She gasps as I lean forward and run my fingers across her belly. I undo one button, and I see she’s breathing harder. I undo another, and then another, and then another until my shirt on her is hanging open and I can see the swell of her breasts.

The shirt falls slightly, and I reach up and move it to the side, staring at her right breast, her nipple puckered. So beautiful. Ibite down on my lower lip. I lean forward and kiss it and suck for just one second. She moans as she stands there, running her fingers through my hair. Then I step back, feeling like the baddest man in all the land.

“I shouldn’t have done that,” I say.

“No, you shouldn’t have.” She blinks rapidly, and I take a deep breath.

“I think we’ve both just been overcome by a weird emotion tonight. Maybe it’s because your cousins are in town,” I whisper.