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“You just have to give me time. I have to work out the particulars, and cause the least amount of damage on all fronts.”
“I can do that. The big guy hasn’t lost a pound down there.” I walk up to him with a spring in my step, and wrap my arms around him, pressing my face on the clean side of his shirt.
“Wh—dammit!” He throws the paper towel, and I just smile into his muscly chest.
“You took good care of him. Vitamin E, bandages, food, fresh clothes. Think I didn’t notice?” I speak with my eyes closed, feeling his body tense from embarrassment. “You’re not as dark as you think, Silver.”
“The naivety of a child,” he says.
“The grumpiness of an old fart,” I reply. “See? We can both say random vague things.”
I stay in his arms for longer than he likes… but eventually? He hugs me back.
xxx
On the way back from the stage house where Dad’s being held, Silver makes a stop at the one closest to my house. Against his wishes, I sneak my way back into the shed where we shared our first kiss. What can I say? It has sentimental value now. He’s gathering supplies inside the house for God knows what. And I’ll just… reminisce.
I glance at the sample wine bottles sitting in a crate and think of maybe twisting one open again. Silver’s probably having a fit anyway since I’m not sitting at the kitchen table where I’m supposed to be.
The doorknob rattles, making me gasp like I did the first time he scared the crap out of me.
“Why did I know you’d be in here?” he growls.
“Good guess?”
“You covered your footprints.” He takes a step closer to me.
“I’m learning.” I step back, holding his eyes.
“Get the hell back to your place, before those rookies start getting suspicious.”
I shake my head, and he knows why…
There’s a silent moment where we just stare at each other. Then, for the first time, we both lean in at once. It’s fast. It’sperfect. The rush of ecstasy just from our lips pressing together slows us both so we can savor it.
God he tastes good.
The way he touches the tip of my chin to curve me to the perfect position makes me melt where I stand.
I gasp when he pulls away, forgetting how to breathe.
No. Not again.
We’re both silent as I lean backward on the table, my hands gripping the ledge as I watch him unravel me with his eyes.
I was wrong… he isn’t going to stop—
He takes hold of the jacket, keeping eyes on mine, scanning my lips as he pulls it down my arms to fall to the floor.
This is what I’ve been missing. Those college boyfriends… rookie cops… didn’t they know I just wanted to betaken?
As he lifts my shirt over my head, my neck is all blotchy. My nipples automatically harden beneath my bra from the cold air, and when he goes to unzip my jeans, I stop him.
It won’t be that easy. You’ll have to give me something too.
I push off from the table, going in for another kiss—but his finger over my mouth stops me. My eyes dart in confusion, brow furrowed. I try to bite his finger so I can wrap my lips around it and suck on it, but he grabs my face by the jaw with that iron grip of his.
“You wait,”he whispers, and my knees nearly buckle.