Page 36 of Smartasses
“Earl,” another one said. “They’re adults, and you worked construction for fifty years. I’ve heard you say worse on poker nights. Relax already.”
Aubrey looked over at the four men sitting at a table in the corner, watching unabashedly as they drank their coffee. Then she grabbed his hand and pulled him into a storage closet so small there was barely enough room for the two at the same time. But he wasn’t about to let her go, not now that he was face-to-face with Aubrey again. To say he was enjoying the close confines would have been the understatement of the century.
“What are you doing in Salvation?” she asked, her hands fluttering across his chest as if she couldn’t help but touch him either.
“Begging for you to forgive me.” He took her hands, holding them to his chest above his heart. “I messed up. I should have listened to you when you tried to tell me you were the one behind the post.”
“I should have insisted that you listen,” she said, her gaze going hazy as she licked her full lips. “I just kept getting distracted.”
“Because I kept kissing you.” And he did it again, pressing his lips to hers and making every promise he’d do whatever it took to keep. “I promise to make up for it—for all of it.”
“How are you going to do that?”
Ideas? Oh yeah, he had lots. “Do you have anywhere with more room than this storage closet?”
She grinned up at him, reaching behind her for the closet door. “I live right above the bakery.”
“I’m starting to love small towns.” So much so that he was already making a mental note to have Byron check out farms for sale in the area. Other actors had places in Idaho or Montana. Salvation might just be even better.
“Me too.” She opened the door, and they spilled out of the closet. “Mr. Lucas,” Aubrey said as they hurried hand in hand through the bakery toward the front door. “Please change the sign to closed when y’all leave.”
“Where are you two going?” the old guy who’d called out Earl asked.
Neither of them answered. They were already all but sprinting out the door.
They made it up the stairs attached to the side of the bakery in record time. She’d never been so happy to live in a small town where no one locked their doors more in her life because that meant no fumbling for keys. Instead, she threw open the door and dragged Carter inside. She was ready to head straight for her bedroom, but he had other plans. Tugging her in close, he gave her a hot, brief kiss before swapping their positions so her back was to the closed door.
“When I walked out of the hotel bathroom and you were gone, I thought I was too late.” Desire and a possessive hunger swirled in his eyes as he crowded into her space, forcing her to back up until she was flat against the door.
Her breath caught. Electricity sparked in the air around them, muddling her ability to form a coherent thought. “Too late for what?”
“To tell you what an idiot I was.” He lowered his lips to hers, possessive and hard.
Stunned, she couldn’t move as his tongue teased her lips, sending heat flaring through her body. Need and want surged from her core. He deepened the kiss, and his hands swept down her sides, coming to rest against the outside of her thighs. The cotton of her sundress felt so soft as it slid against her bare legs when he inched it higher and higher until it bunched around her waist. The contrasting texture of his rough hands and the delicate lace of her panties against her hip teased her desire. She buried her fingers in his still short but growing out buzz-cut hair, wanting to touch him everywhere at once. It was happening too fast and not fast enough.
Desperate for more, she pulled back from his hungry mouth. “Carter.”
He squeezed her hips. “Whatever you want, tell me. I’ll make it happen.”
Grabbing a handful of his button-up shirt in each fist, she looked him straight in the eye. This wasn’t because they were in a cruise bubble. It wasn’t the idea of being with her fantasy guy. This was Carter, the man she’d fallen for the moment he played along with her prank to steal Grace’s pants.
“You know what I want,” she said as she yanked his shirt open, sending buttons flying across the room.
“You want me to make you come?”
“More.” The ache deep within her intensified. Her sensitive skin craved his touch, yearned for him. “I want you. Now. Tomorrow.”
He leaned forward and nipped at the base of her neck. “Aubrey, I’m yours.”
Her knees buckled, and she would have sunk to the floor if his hands weren’t holding her hips so firmly. His hands curved around to her ass, cupping each globe in his palms. He lifted her to her tiptoes, his strong hands on her ass. Using a foot, he nudged her legs farther apart. The cool air brushed against her panties, taunting her heated clit.
Her skin tingled everywhere Carter touched, but it wasn’t enough—she wasn’t sure it ever would be. Her lips busy with his, she spread her fingers wide and ran them across his broad shoulders. She followed the curve of his biceps, tensing under her touch, nudging his shirt down his arms until it fell from them.
Pulling her mouth away was a necessary small torture so she could taste more of him. She trailed kisses down to his throat, pausing at the pulse hammering there, relishing that both of their hearts raced in anticipation. A quick nip elicited a harsh groan from him.
Pushing her back gently, he framed her face with his hands, forcing her to make eye contact. “I’m sorry for everything. Can you forgive me?”
“Only if you’ll forgive me too.”
