Page 219 of Always Love You More

“I’m gonna be late. I’m supposed to help open.”

“So be late.”

“You know I can’t …”

He lets out a low groan, nipping at my bottom lip, before reluctantly pulling back. “I hate leaving you.”

“You’ll see me tonight.”

He shakes his head. “Too far away.”

“Well, you’ll just have to wait,” I tell him, biting back a smile. “You’re gonna get me fired.”

“Oh, come on; they’d never fire you. And you know it’ll only be Patsy this early in the morning.”

“You’re a bad influence.”

He nods, grabbing my thighs and yanking me toward him. “The worst.”

I squeal, a laugh pouring out of me, but it’s quickly silenced when his lips crash against mine. He grips my hips, pulling me to straddle him.

I quickly gaze around the parking lot, but it’s empty since we don’t open for another hour. The sun hasn’t fully risen yet, the sky barely even light.

The skirt of my uniform is bunched up, leaving my thighs bare, and I shiver as Jameson brushes his knuckles up and down my skin.

His kisses turn more languid as he wraps his arms around my middle, anchoring me to him.

I pull away, our eyes briefly meeting, before I drop my forehead to his chest.

“I never thought I’d want to be around someone as much as I want to be around you,” he says softly. “But whenever you’re away from me, it’s like …” He brushes his lips against my hair. “I don’t know … I just … I fucking hate it.”

I breathe him in, burrowing deeper against his chest. “I feel the same way.”

“It’s like I’m a fucking addict,” he muses. “Don’t even want you to go to work.”

I lean away from him, my back hitting the steering wheel. “I’ll see you tonight, though,” I tell him, and his eyes heat at the promise in my voice. “We’re still going to Dougie’s party, right?”

He nods.

“Well, then you should be able to get your fill of me there.”

His grip on my hips tightens, and I grab his hands, sliding them away from me before I start to move back into my seat.

“But I’ve really gotta get to work now.”

“Fine,” he sighs.

I grab my purse and reach for the door.

“What time am I picking you up?”

“Don’t know,” I answer, looking back at him. “I’ll text you.”

The door clicks shut behind me, and I hear him call out my name. Turning, I duck down into the open window.

He grabs my chin, pulling me into a kiss. “Love you, baby.”

“Love you,” I answer before breaking the kiss and rushing toward the diner.