Page 84 of Before Eve

“You smell so good,” he murmurs.

A shiver dances down my spine, and I pull him even closer and open my legs. With a groan, he presses into me.

Homework assignment.

My pulse kicks in. He’s always the one initiating the kissing, the touching, the hugging. I like it all, but he never takes it too far. Like he’s afraid to push me beyond my comfort zone. I don’t mind the pushing, though. He knows how to read me, how to do it where my hesitancy quickly becomes wanting. I’m ready for things to go a little further. I’m not sure how much further. But there’s no reason why I can’t make the first move, why I can’t experiment. There’s nothing wrong with that at all. I draw in a breath of courage and give his chest a gentle push.

He stops kissing me. “You okay?”

I nod. “I have a homework assignment.”

CHAPTER 41

Slowly,West takes on amusement, and he pushes himself away from me. “A homework assignment. Okay.”

I sit up. “From Anne. I’m supposed to—” lick your tat, put my hand down your pants—I shake my head. “Basically, I’m supposed to take the initiative with you.”

His amusement transitions into surprise. “Well, I just might be in love with Anne.” He spreads his arms along the back of the couch. “Your wish is my command.”

I blow out a shaky breath.

“What do you want me to do?” he asks.

What do I want him to do? That’s easy. “Take your shirt off.”

Quickly, he does just that. “Now what?”

I’m not sure, so I trace my finger along his tattoo. “When did you get this?”

“After Mom died.” His lips curve up in tenderness. “Her name was Rose.”

I trail my index finger over the rose at the top of the vine, thinking of his wonderful family and how tragic it all is.

“It’s okay,” he whispers. “Come here.”

I scoot closer, tentatively touching his bare chest with myfingers. I trace the curve of his pecs and trail my hand further down to his abs.

His breath deepens, and he slides a hand up my side. “Do I get to make any requests in this homework assignment?”

I shake my head, making it up as I go along. “No.”

“Bummer.”

I wet my lips and lean in to kiss his chest. He catches his breath, and his fingers curl into my side. I slide up, kissing him on the lips, deep and slow, and when I pull back, I shake with need.

His hand that’s on my side slides lower, and he digs his fingers into my butt, and without hesitating, I caress my fingers inside the gap of his jeans.

He draws in another breath.

I’m not sure what makes me so bold, maybe his expression, my own sense of control, but I unsnap his jeans and unzip them.

West shudders.

“You were right. You wear Daffy Duck underwear.”

His hand slides under my hip, and gently he pulls me over until I’m straddling his left leg. He lifts his thigh and presses it into me, and I draw in a breath.

“Can I feel you?” I ask, and he nods.