Page 112 of Chasing Hope

Ashford, you’re the organizer. I say this fuck-up is on you

ASHFORD

shut the fuck up you grumpy bastard

JOHNSON

just pointing out thefacts

Ican’t tell if I’m in heaven or hell.

The car bounces over a speed bump, and holding onto Evie does nothing to stop her from also bouncing up and down on my lap. I decide right here and now that I most definitely am in heaven.

Another pothole has Evie bobbing again.

Definitely in fucking heaven.

Dropping my head back on the headrest, I bite the inside of my cheek and squeeze my eyes shut. No matter what I think about, I can’t get my dick to go down, not while she’s wearing a silky yellow dress and sitting on my lap. Irving and the music drone into nothing but a distant chatter as the feel of her body consumes my every waking thought.

“Are you okay?”

At Evie’s whisper, I snap my eyes open to find she’s angling herself sideways, leaning more into my chest.

“Yep,” I croak out, shocked to hear how deep my voice is.

Evie arches a brow. “Why do you look like you’re in pain? I know I’m not that heavy.”

“You’re not heavy at all. Light as a feather.”

“Then why the face?”

Because it physically pains me to have you sitting on my lap when I can’t touch you how I want to.

Another pothole has Evie rising and crashing down perfectly in alignment over me, the position answering the question for me.

Leaning forward, I try to maneuver her off because the last thing I want is for her to feel uncomfortable, but to my utter surprise, her hand smacks down on my chest, pushing me back into my seat and stopping me.

I suck in a hiss of air. Her glacial blue eyes are absolutely heated.

A million and one thoughts pass along her features, and trying to calm the sea of them, I gently place my hand on her hip, loving and savoring the way her breath hitches.

Another bump, this one far larger, has her jolting once more.

The driver shouts out his apologies but I don’t care, not as it forces me to grip her hip tighter and gives me an excuse to put my other hand on her thigh. I come into contact with bare skin.

Surprised, I note her floor-length dress is now bunched around her thighs. My dark hand on her creamy skin is an indescribable feeling of ecstasy, and a low grumble escapes from deep within my chest as my fingers flex.

A whimper tumbles from Evie’s lips, and the tent in my pants twitches as I hear the sound I’ve daydreamed of for years.

Then Evie goes and makes me lose my mind.

With hooded lids, Evie takes a steadying breath, slides her hand up to the nape of my neck, and opens her leg just an inch. My eyes all but roll in the back of my head as I drop my forehead to the nape of her neck and bite her shoulder. It’s a gentle bite, but I need to dosomethingwith my mouth to stop myself from kissing her.

What if I kiss her and she runs again? What if this is just the heat of the moment for her? What if I kiss her and ruin our friendship? What if Iloseher?

What if…

What if…