She’d wanted it, too.
Tongues slipped past lips and breath mingled. Hearts pounded and pulses raced, and Graham had to back off soon before he did something senseless like try to carry her to his bedroom, or twist around to lift her on the counter.
He brought his hand around to the front of her neck, his thumb tracing her collarbone as he pulled back.
Damn. He’d thought kissing her would be enough, but he wanted more.
He wanted it all.
He hated his broken leg more in this moment than any other.
The soft sound she made with her exhale nearly did him in. She must have caught the flash of need in his eyes, because she took a step back, giving them both room to breathe.
She chewed on her lower lip. “Well. Should we eat?”
It wasn’t what he wanted to do next, but he nodded and gave himself a minute before he pushed off and took a seat at the table.
Claire chattered about her day while they ate. Graham was more than content to sit and listen to her.
Gertrude sat near his feet, giving him huge round eyes that he’d never been able to resist, and he periodically slipped her small pieces of his food.
When they got in bed that night they finished up her online dating profile and, after she’d spent ten minutes reviewing everything, hit Submit. She turned wide eyes on him and said, “This is it. I might have just started a connection with the man of my dreams.”
Graham wasn’t quite so optimistic. Yeah, he’d heard of success stories from online dating, but he’d also heard several shitty ones.
Maybe she’d let him review her matches before contacting them, sort of like how they worked while they were out.
Claire closed her laptop and set it on the nightstand. She turned out the lamp and scooted closer to him. He couldn’t sleep on his side, but he turned his head to meet her eyes.
“It’s probably weird to say this after setting up a profile to meet other men, and a terrible idea to suggest it when we’re horizontal. But I’m the kind of girl who asks for what she wants, and all I want to do right now is kiss you again.” She dropped her gaze briefly. “Feel free to turn me down. I won’t be offended.”
He reached out, tipped her chin up with his finger, and shot her an incredulous look. He wanted to tell her he’d have to be dead to not want to kiss her.
When she gave him a small smile that was…not quite shy, but not a standard, confident Claire smile, he leaned as far as he could to rest his hand on the small of her back and tucked her close against his side.
He brushed his nose against hers and she parted her lips, eyes falling closed. He wasted no time with pleasantries and sucked her bottom lip into his mouth. She let out a moan and enthusiastically returned his fervor, sliding one hand under his shirt as their mouths crashed together. His body went taut when she went up on her elbow to prop herself above him, pressing her breasts into his arm.
Not being able to flip her over, climb on top of her writhing body, and feel her pleasure beneath him was straight up going to kill him.
Just as the thought grabbed hold, another one popped up, this one unfamiliar and intriguing.
Savor her.
The concept was like a shock to his system, and he switched gears. Hot, urgent, and fast was for another time. A time when he had a voice, because he wanted to talk to her. Tell her how it felt, ask what she liked.
They were just getting started and learning about each other. And he couldn’t ignore his physical limitations. A night like this was for intention. Touching. Tasting.
This experience with Claire wasn’t a night out at a club downing shots and cutting loose on the dance floor. No, this was a trip to wine country with meandering bike rides down country roads and hours-long tastings and food pairings to satisfy the palate.
“Damn, Graham. I hope my future husband is as good at this as you are,” she murmured against his mouth.
Her words gave birth to a strange, unwelcome sensation in his gut. He pushed it deep down, as far as it would go, and went in for more.
He was well aware of what they were doing and the boundaries, both spoken and unspoken. It was just…he was so comfortable with Claire, and this newfound discovery of their sexual chemistry was intoxicating. If she found another man she wanted to marry, he’d be happy for her and wish her the best.
But until then…what they had going was perfect for him, and part of him hoped that wouldn’t change anytime soon.
From: [email protected]
Subject: Bored again
Claire,
Another Google suggestion for journal topics is the high and low of your day.