Page 44 of Make It Last

“I will,” I said quickly. “But you might want to pay attention too. It’s a little hard to focus.”

He laughed, low and warm. He shifted carefully, angling my body so my knee and ankle didn’t twist. He pulled my hips fully into his lap.

Of course he was strong, what with being a hotshot firefighter and all. But what stole my breath was the way I could feel him beneath me, hard and wanting. I loved it, loved knowing I did that.

I was wet and needy, rushed and breathless, and suddenly nervous all over again.

Tanner sensed it instantly. “Stop thinking, Ava.”

I huffed. “About what?”

He shut me up with a kiss. Which was ideal, honestly, because this man could kiss.

I melted into it, impatient when he pulled back just enough for me to trail my fingers along the stubble on his jaw. Tanner with a five o’clock shadow was delectable. I loved the subtle prickly feel beneath my fingertips.

He leaned back slightly, eyes dark. “Tell me what you want.”

His question froze me. Brad had never asked me that. Not once.

“You,” I said immediately.

“What feels good for you?”

Insecurity slammed into me hard and fast.

He slid his hand from my hair, his calloused palm brushing along my neck. Goose bumps rose instantly. He traced my collarbone before teasing his thumb over my nipple through the thin fabric of my tank top.

“Do you like that?” he asked quietly.

I choked on a breath and nodded. “Yes.”

“Since we know it didn’t feel good with your ex, what do you do for yourself?”

My cheeks burned. “I have a really nice vibrator,” I blurted out.

His smile was immediate. “Good,” he said. “Love that. What do you do with it?”

His hand slid lower, cupping between my thighs. My hips rocked instinctively into his touch. “That feels good,” I said faintly even though it was obvious.

“Not tonight,” he added, voice low. “But sometime we could play with that.”

Something cracked open in my chest then, a feeling I didn’t quite trust. It scared me, so I tried to shake it off.

“Kiss me again,” I whispered.

Tanner didn’t hesitate. One hand cupped the nape of my neck, firm and steady, while the other stayed exactly where it was, between my thighs. His mouth claimed mine, slow and commanding, and I could have lost myself in his kisses forever. He kissed like he was savoring me. Easy and unhurried, nipping lightly at the corners of my mouth, breathing me in.

When we finally broke apart, we stared at each other. I saw my own shock reflected in his eyes.

The sensation building inside me was completely unfamiliar. My pulse raced, wild and uncontained, like a herd of horses thundering faster and faster. But it wasn’t just my pulse. Every sensation seemed to intensify, gathering speed and slipping beyond my control.

It shocked me because I’d expected this to follow the old pattern. Kisses leading to boredom, to impatience, to critique. Ending in that awful, exposed feeling, like I was failing. Instead, sensation drove me.

I wanted more.

“More,” I whispered without realizing I’d said it out loud.

“That’s easy,” Tanner said. “And that’s all you want?”