Page 93 of Chasing Smoke

She looks fucking phenomenal, and I wish my mouth weren’t so dry so that I could tell her so.

Instead, all that comes out is, “Wha… what…”

“I wanted to make it very clear where our night is headed. Now get in here, it’s nippy outside.”

The obvious joke escapes me right now, which is a shame because it’s the perfect moment for it.

I step inside, and without missing a beat, I lift her so she’s straddling my waist and kick the door closed.

We collide in a riot of kisses, and pretty soon, I’m trailing my tongue from the base of her neck to her jawline, then nipping on her earlobe. I’m already hard as a brick in my black cargo pants, and if Collins keeps rubbing herself against me, there’s a good chance I might come in my pants.

Before we get too carried away, I want to be sure I understand what’s happening here. Somehow, I find the strength to pull away from her lips.

I rest my forehead against hers, catching my breath, and giving my libido a chance to stall out. “What does this mean?”

She pulls her head back, looking at me with a what-the-hell expression. “Ansel, if a woman greets you in lingerie, what do you think it means?” She arches an eyebrow.

“In this case, I hope it means she wants to sleep with me, but are you ready?”

With a wide grin, she holds her left hand up between us.

Her wedding rings are gone.

My gaze snaps to meet hers. “Does this mean…”

She nods. “I wrote my letter, then afterward, I took my rings off. It was time. I’m only looking ahead to the future now, not behind anymore.”

I grin at her, unable to remember the last time I was this happy. “Fuck yeah.”

Our mouths meet again, and this time as I kiss her, I walk us up the stairs until I walk into her bedroom. I lay her down on the bed, then pivot to turn on the bedside lamp. I want to be able to see this woman in all her glory.

Collins shimmies up to the top of the bed, and I stand beside it, staring at her. “Do you know how beautiful you are?”

Her cheeks pinken and she turns her head away from me.

“Oh no, don’t you dare do that.” I use my index finger to turn her face back my way. “Own it. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” I trail my index finger down beside the strap of her bra, then along the edge of the cup, over the fullness of her breast. “Right now, you’re like a present for me, almost too pretty to unwrap.”

She arches into my touch as I drag my finger back up the same way.

I straighten, and she watches as I pull my black hoodie over my head, then grip my T-shirt from behind my neck and yank it off, tossing it somewhere behind me. Next to go are my black cargos and socks until I’m standing there in my black boxer briefs, hard cock trying to burst through the cotton.

Collins licks her lips. “God, you’re hot.”

I can’t help but chuckle.

“Don’t stop there. The job’s only half done.” She motions toward my boxer briefs.

I grin as I crawl over the mattress until I’m over top of her. “Gotta leave you wanting more, baby.”

I lower myself so that some of my weight presses against her and use my forearms beside her head to support the rest. Dipping my chin, I lick the seam of her lips the same way I plan to lick her other seam. She knows it too, because she moans from the simple act. Then our tongues are dueling for supremacy, and I come out on top.

She wraps her legs around my waist, and my hard length presses right where she needs it. I jerk my hips a couple of times, and she moans into my mouth. The urge to get her off like this is strong, but I want to be inside her so that I can feel her clenching around me.

I pepper her heated skin with open-mouthed kisses—across her jawline up to her ear, down her neck, and across her collarbone to the swell of her breasts. Her tight pink nipples press against the delicate lace of her lingerie, teasing. I can’t resist running my tongue over the silk and lace.

Her hand pushes through the hair at the back of my head as I tongue her turgid peak and suck it. Collins pulls on my hair when I use my teeth to gently pull at it through the fabric before moving on to her other breast.

I slide one hand underneath her back, find the hook for her bra, and release it. Then I slide the straps down over her shoulders, and she pulls her arms out. I toss the bra somewhere behind me, take each of her breasts in hand, and push them together.