Page 18 of Fear of Love (Falling #3)

LYDIA

K issing Landon was… toe curling. That was the only word to describe it. His hands were gentle as he held my face, tilting my chin at the perfect angle. His lips were firm and soft as he took my mouth, the scruff on his face tickling my cheeks.

My hands gripped the front of his shirt, and I pressed my front against his. The sound of moaning met my ears, and it took me a second to realize it was coming from me. I couldn’t find it in me to be embarrassed, not when Landon kissed me like I was about to disappear.

The two of us pulled back, breathing heavy. I slowly opened my eyes, finding Landon already looking down at me. My hands unconsciously gripped his shirt tighter at the look on his face.

“I-I…” I couldn’t find any words, my mind still reeling from the kiss. My lips tingled, as well as the skin around my mouth from Landon’s beard.

The elevator dinged and the doors opened, drawing both of our attention. I was too busy being consumed by Landon to remember we were in an elevator. My head was still in a daze as he grabbed my hand and pulled me out.

“Third door on the left,” I somewhat managed to say, my brain slowly coming out of the shock that occurred when I kissed Landon.

My hands shook slightly as I took my keys out of my bag and opened my door. This would be the first time Landon would see where I lived. I didn’t typically have anyone over, sometimes the girls, but usually, this was my space and my space alone.

Awkwardly, I stood off to the side to let Landon through, shutting and locking the door behind him.

“Uh, make yourself comfortable.” I gestured to my living room, taking the few steps to my kitchen counter to place my bag and keys on it, as well as my coat.

A thousand thoughts were running through my mind, but all I could truly think about was the feel of Landon’s lips on mine and if I could kiss him again. Turning around, I expected to see Landon looking around my apartment, but instead, I found him leaning against my couch, eyes on me.

The heat in his gaze made my skin warm. I didn’t think I ever had someone look at me the way he was right then. My feet moved on their own until I was inches away. All I had to do was reach out, and I’d feel that hard chest.

“What are we doing?” I found myself whispering.

“What do you want to do?” He was clearly putting the ball in my court. It would be my call if I wanted more, and if I didn’t, he would back off.

“I don’t know.” And it was the truth. Part of me was telling me to back up, but the other part wanted me to grab Landon by the shirt and kiss the hell out of him. “We don’t even like each other.”

A finger under my chin tilted my head back until I met his eyes. Up close, I noticed they leaned a bit more blue than green than I thought.

“You can hate me and still fuck me, Lydia.”

But that was the thing, I didn’t hate Landon. Even when he was an asshole, I never truly despised him.

I watched as his eyes flicked down to my lips. My tongue darted out to wet them. Landon’s pupils grew as he mirrored the action. An action that was hotter than it should’ve been.

“I…” I didn’t know what to say. Didn’t know how to voice what I wanted. Because right here and now, I wanted him. Wanted to stoke the fire that was growing between us.

As if sensing I was having trouble, he closed the distance between us. His chest brushed against mine as his hand moved from my chin to cup the side of my jaw.

“Tell me to stop.” His voice was low as he bent his head closer.

I could tell him to stop and all of this would end. The words were at the tip of my tongue, yet I couldn’t say them. Not when this burning need filled my body. The need to touch, feel, taste everything that was Landon.

“Tell me to stop,” he repeated. His lips gently brushed against me as he spoke. The moment his lips teased mine I was done for. All it took was a small tilt of my head and our lips met again.

God, he could kiss. The way his tongue lightly traced the seam of my lips. The way he took control of the kiss turned me on more than I thought it would.

I nibbled on his bottom lip, drawing a groan from him. My knees almost buckled at the sound. Why was that so damn hot? In return, Landon slipped his tongue past my lips, expertly wrapping his around mine in a way that had me second-guessing all my past kisses.

There was nothing sweet and soft about the demanding way he took my lips. His hand a soft pressure against my jaw as he pulled a whimper out of my mouth. It was like he wanted to lay claim to me.

We pulled back for much needed air as my hands ran down the front of his shirt, fingers toying with the hem of it. The need that grew in my belly got stronger. I no longer cared about what could happen after this. All I cared about was getting Landon out of his clothes.

Without a word, I grabbed the bottom of Landon’s shirt and tugged up.

His hands took over as he slipped it over his head and pulled his arms from the sleeves.

My eyes drank in his bare chest as if they were seeing it for the first time.

I had seen him shirtless before in Australia, but this time, there was nothing holding me back from staring and getting my fill.

Landon wasn’t a professional hockey player like Wyatt, but he had the body of one.

He was a bit bulkier with wide cut shoulders and arms that were big and muscular, but not overly so.

His abs looked like they were chiseled from stone, and I wanted nothing more than to run my tongue along each ridge.

My hands had a mind of their own as they ran down his hard pecs, a soft sprinkling of hair tickling my palms. Even the subtle hair on Landon’s chest managed to be attractive.

My eyes were glued to my hands as they continued down his body to his abs.

With my index finger, I traced each indent, the muscle flexing under my finger.

What the hell was this guy doing at the gym to look this good?

I tugged my bottom lip with my teeth as my finger moved to the tapered V at his hips.

Landon’s body shuddered under my touch, making me smirk.

“Careful how you tease me.”

“Or what?” I glanced up at him from under my lashes, finger grazing the skin right above the waistline of his underwear and jeans. The heat in his gaze had my thighs clenching.

“Do it again and find out.” The warning in his voice did little to deter me. I dipped a finger under the band of his underwear. My finger nail grazed his skin before my chin was grabbed. I looked at Landon seconds before his lips met mine again.

I didn’t know how it was possible, but this kiss felt even hungrier than the last. My hands moved up his body to his shoulders just as he gripped my ass, lifting me in the air. My body moved through the air as he held me close to him, then my butt plopped down on the counter.

My legs had a mind of their own as they wrapped around his waist, tugging him closer. I was at the perfect height where I could feel the outline of his cock through his jeans. Unable to help myself, I wiggled my hips against him, desperate to feel him.

Landon’s hands moved from my butt to the hem of my shirt, hesitating for a second as if to ask for permission.

I pulled back from him and lifted my arms up and waited.

Our eyes met as Landon slowly inched my shirt up and over my head, tossing it to the side.

A flash of nervousness hit me as his eyes trailed down to my breasts.

I wasn’t wearing my sexiest bra, but that didn’t seem to bother Landon at all.

The muscle in his jaw twitched as his hands came to my side, thumbs softly stroking my skin.

My nipples pebbled against the fabric, as if begging Landon to do something.

His little touches did little to ease the ache growing inside me.

Landon stood there, making no move to touch me other than at my hips.

“Are you just going to tease me all night?” I was poking the bear, but I was tired of waiting. Now that we were going to do this, I was done wasting time.

“I really should. Make up for all the times you’ve teased me.” As he spoke, his hands moved up, the tips of his fingers grazing the underside of my bra. I had to physically stop my hips from grinding against the front of his pants.

Control yourself, Lydia.

That thought instantly went out the window as Landon gripped the front of my bra and yanked it down, making my breasts pop out. He grabbed my nipple between his fingers, sending a zing of pleasure straight to my core. My hips jerked, not expecting it to feel so good.

“Again.” The voice that left my mouth didn’t sound like mine.

“Are you asking or demanding?” He cocked an eyebrow.

“You ass.” I dragged the word out as he pinched my nipple again, but harder.

“Care to repeat that?” I went to say it again, only to groan when his other hand came up to do the same thing to my other nipple. My eyes fluttered as Landon smirked. “Thought so.”

“Don’t be a dick.” My voice came out breathless, lacking any heat.

“I think you like it.” Landon bent his head close to mine, his teeth nipping at my earlobe hard enough to make my eyes roll back.

His hands left my breasts to reach back and unclip my bra. I was oddly impressed that he did it one-handed and in a single attempt. I let my bra slip down my arms and tossed it over Landon’s shoulder before leaning back on my hands.

I didn’t let myself feel embarrassed at being topless in front of him. I knew I looked good, and from the low groan in his throat, Landon thought so, too. Those hazel eyes took in the way my chest arched up toward him.

My eyes dared him to make a move. Dared him to show me what he could do. If I knew anything about Landon Boone, it was that he was competitive. Just like his brothers. He’d never back down from a challenge, and I wasn’t above using that to my advantage.