Page 43 of Make It Last

She closed her eyes for a beat, and this time, I almost felt the breath she took inside my own body. When she let it out with a gust and blinked her eyes open again, she announced, “Okay,” and then startled me by leaning forward and bringing her lips to mine.

Chapter Eighteen

Tanner

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The hot, plush press of Ava’s lips might as well have been a bolt of lightning shocking my entire nervous system. This kiss was just as unexpected and fiery hot as the one in the hospital. She let out a soft moan that sizzled down my spine. Everything blurred. There was only the heat of her mouth on mine and the jolt of electricity snapping through every point of contact.

She moved closer, shifting into my lap. It was a little awkward with the boot, but she didn’t let that stop her. She was warm and soft, and sweet fucking hell, I could have kissed her for days. This wasn’t some careful little maybe-we-should test. She threw herself into it.

Ava nipped at my bottom lip at one point and broke into a giggle as we came apart, breathless. My own laugh rumbled in my chest as our eyes locked. Hers were wide and dark with need. Meanwhile, I was on fucking fire for her.

My cock was hard and aching, and I wasn’t even thinking when I took her hand and guided it down to press over the solid length in my jeans. “This is what I mean,” I said, my voice low and rough.

Her eyes went wide. “What do you mean?”

“That’s how much I want you, Ava.”

I wasn’t trying to push. I just wanted her to know, no analysis included. My ache for her was just from a kiss.

Chapter Nineteen

Ava

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I could feel the hard, hot length of Tanner’s arousal pulsing beneath my palm as I gave in to the urge to slide my hand over the ridge of his cock. Even through the denim, I could feel the heat of him, the undeniable proof of his desire, and it startled me in the best possible way.

I took a shaky breath. I was hot and needy all over.

Memories tried to intrude, unwanted and unwelcome. The way things had been with Brad, how he’d always had trouble getting aroused and somehow made it my fault. How I’d gone down internet rabbit holes trying to figure out why.

“Ava.” His voice came out low and rough, a rasp that slid straight through me. The sound alone tangled with my arousal, heat simmering just beneath my skin.

I took another shaky breath, grounding myself back in the present. Right here. With him.

“Focus on the hotshot,” I murmured.

His lips kicked up at the corners, and I loved that I’d done that to him.

“We need to be careful—” he began.

“No, we don’t,” I protested.

He chuckled. “You could let me finish my sentence.”

I sighed. “Okay, fine.”

“About your ankle,” he finished.

“Oh. That.”

I’d shifted so I was halfway in his lap, my injured leg still propped on the ottoman. It wasn’t ideal, but I didn’t care.

“We will.” I nodded. “I promise.”

“You’ll have to pay attention,” he teased.