Page 83 of Starting Back
If I added up all the time I’d known him, minus the months of lonely pining, it only amounted to weeks. Too soon to be in love with someone, no matter how intoxicating the passion was between us.
Colin and I had some good times together before everything started to go bad, but I didn’t recall a time when things were as intense between us as they were between Leo and me.
The crazy lust was probably doing things to my brain, but when Leo broke the kiss, staring down at me with so much more than just heat, it sure as hell felt real.
I couldn’t blame a time limit for trapping us into a powder keg of emotions anymore. We were both here in this town to stay, at least I hoped, as that was still a fear I needed to shake.
But when I was with Leo, even though I’d just gotten him back, I didn’t want to be anywhere else.
“Last night seems…almost like it didn’t happen.” I cuddled next to him when he drew me into his side. “I mean, other than not being able to move.”
“It happened, all right. The way you grabbed me and kissed me like that, in front of everyone, I’ve never been so turned on in my life. That moment is going to roll around in my head for a long time.”
“I’m sure we’re going tohearabout it for a long time. A good way to start over, I guess,” I said, skimming my finger along the grooves of his abs.
“We aren’t starting over, we’re starting back.”
“Starting back?” I pushed off his chest and squinted at him. “What’s the difference?”
“Well, starting over means that we were doing things wrong. Starting back means we were interrupted. All that good from when we first met still counts. We don’t have to do anything over, just keep going.” He cupped my chin, his wide and easy grin stealing what was left of the air in my lungs. “Without worrying about when we have to stop or when one of us has to leave.”
If I wasn’t fully in love with this guy yet, the free fall was soon and inevitable.
“You’re kind of romantic.”
“I thought I was suave.”
“That too,” I said, scratching my nails along the longer bristles of stubble at his chin. “But as much as I enjoy having you naked in my bedroom, let me get your clothes.”
“Fine.” He exhaled a long sigh as I pushed off the bed. “If it makes you feel better, you can go pick up my clothes. I’ll wait up here.”
He sat up, one hand behind his head as he leaned against my headboard.
“What?” He lifted a shoulder in feigned innocence when he caught me staring. “You’re the one making a big deal about getting my clothes when you could just stay naked with me for another hour.”
I shook my head, a smile rushing across my mouth as I walked down the stairs.
Our clothes were strewn across the whole living room, and I would have to explain why two pictures crashed off the wall in the hallway.
We’d managed to stop pawing at each other long enough to sweep up the glass, but I needed a better reason for why they broke other than Leo plowing me against the wall.
My shoulders rolled with a sexy chill at the recent memory.
“I think that’s all of it,” I said as I plopped the ball of clothes onto the chair next to my bed. “Enough that if we have to go downstairs for anything left behind, we won’t shock any wildlife peeking through the window.”
Leo lounged on the bed in the same sexy pose as I’d left him. He scooted under the sheets and crooked a finger at me.
“So, come back to bed.” He grabbed my hand and yanked me back until I fell on top of him. “While there’s still no one around to hear all the noise you make.”
“I don’t make that much noise,” I said, propping my elbow onto Leo’s hard stomach and resting my head on my hand.
I scowled at him when his brows popped up.
“So all that screaming forharderanddeeperwas my imagination?”
I swatted his chest as it rumbled with a laugh.
“You know what I was thinking?” He dragged his finger up and down my back. “I don’t even know what your favorite food is. I’ve never taken you out anywhere.”
