Page 51

“What?”

“You’re smiling.”

For some reason, that makes me laugh. It does nothing to dampen the tension. I shrug. “Sometimes, you’re so full of life that I feel imbued with it.”

Her laughter is a caress. I down my whiskey and set the glass aside.

“Did I overstep last time?” It’s an abrupt question, but I need to know the answer.

Her glass clinks on the counter, too, and I follow the movement. “No. Not at all.”

Prodded forward, I step into her space, trapping her against the counter and brushing our noses together. “Then this is okay?”

Incredible how right it feels. How such a small bit of contact can both settle and invigorate me.

Sofia tips up, pressing her mouth against mine in a soft, tentative sweep.

Fuck, yes.The relief sways my body into hers, a light pressure that makes me glad my palms are firmly planted on the counter behind her hips. I want to enjoy this sweet, slow kiss, the way she so easily twists me up with the simplest touch.

When her mouth opens and our tongues touch, tentative and slow dissolve. Sofia’s hands crawl up me, pulling at my shirt. My hunger defeats my common sense. Hands circling her hips, I lift her to the edge of the counter and step between her thighs.

Her grip on me changes, her legs coming around my waist in a silent invitation that sends me reeling. Rocking us together elicits a small moan in the back of her throat. God, I remember that sound.

I slide my touch up her back, delighting in her shiver. When my fingers tangle in the ends of her hair, I tug her head back and drop kisses along her neck.

Nails dig into my shoulders. I’m so fucking hard that it hurts. Would she let me carry her upstairs to my bedroom? Is that too presumptuous?

I nibble on her earlobe and whisper her name against her damp skin.

“Brax.” Her voice is so soft that the baser parts of me thaw, ready to want things that I haven’t in such a long time. “I think the smart move here is to take me somewhere with more privacy.”

She’s right. The shower has just shut off, which means Birdie will be stepping out of it any minute. “Hold on.”

Her hold on me tightens as I lift her in my grasp and do exactly what I hoped to. I carry her up to my room. The door snaps shut, and I push her against it, reveling in how much of her is pressed against all of me.

Sofia, as sexy as she always is, touches me sweetly, caressing the side of my face and smirking at me.

“Did you like that show of masculine strength, Sofia?”

That cracks a bigger smile across her face. “I did. This one, too. I’m not petite.”

“You’re the perfect armful.” I grumble it under her ear, right where I know it catches her breath, and it does, curling her nails into my shoulders again. “I love that noise you make that’s almost silent.”

Nipping her has her gasp and arch to expose her throat to me. I feast on her exposed flesh until she’s wriggling in my hold.

I turn and march us to my bed, letting her bounce gently beneath me. Those pretty blue eyes peer up at me, darkening as her pupils blow wide. Her blonde hair spreads across my dark comforter, and I can’t resist running my fingers through it.

She shines as she laughs without making a noise, fingers splaying across my cheek before she lifts to kiss me again.

I must still have the skills I had as a lad because she wiggles, arches, squeezes her knees around me. Before long, we’re dry humping each other, our bodies fitting together perfectly.

Cradling the back of her head, I’m nibbling my way down her exposed chest. “I want you naked, under me.”

“Well, we’re halfway there. What’s holding you back?” The need in her voice builds my confidence.

“I don’t want to presume,” I murmur against her breastbone.

“Here’s your permission. Show me what you’ve got.”