Page 66 of Lawton

"Um, no…"

"Adorable? Breathtaking? Impossible to forget?"

And thatwasn'tthe booze talking.

Laughing, she shook her head. "Actually, I was going to say 'gross'." She looked down at her legs, still streaked with smudges and dirt. "Yeah, I guess I probably do need a shower."

She looked so adorable that I had to smile. "Probably," I said, letting my eyes roam the length of her. "But I've gotta be honest. You look fine to me, just the way you are."

Breathlessly, she said, "Yeah?"

Something in her voice made my body pulse. But this was Chloe, and I was determined to do things right.

"And," I warned her, "you should probably run as fast as you can for the shower now, before I get tempted to prove it."

Her breath caught, and I saw her swallow. Her tongue, small and pink, darted out, brushing the inside of her upper lip. The motion, subtle as it was, made want to groan out loud.

What was it about her? I hadn't even touched her, well, not in any serious way. And already, I felt like if I didn't have her soon, I'd go insane.

But, I reminded myself, I'd rather go insane than ever risk hurting her, or scaring her, or making her think she was just another girl. I was in this for the long haul. So I waited.

Finally, she gave me a slow, seductive smile. "A little proof wouldn't besoawful."

If she let me, I'd give her a lot more than a little. But for now, I leaned forward until our lips were almost touching. If she wanted to run, this was her chance. It might be her only chance.

She didn't run.

Finally, our lips met. I started slow and soft, savoring the sweetness of her mouth on mine. The kiss was everything I imagined, but still not enough. With Chloe, it might never be enough.

I deepened the kiss, moving one hand to her back and the other to her hair. I ran my fingers through the damp, tangled strands, wondering how it would look across my pillow.

She pressed herself closer, arching up, as if hungry for more. I wanted more, too. A lot more. I wrapped my arms tight around her and tumbled backward onto the sofa, taking her with me.

She was on top of me now, pelvis to pelvis, chest to chest. We were still kissing, and I loved every minute of it. She was a great kisser – with soft lips and a talented tongue.

Through the thin fabric of the borrowed shirt, I felt the roundness of her breasts and the hardness of her nipples. I felt her hands on my face and her feet rubbing against the bottoms of my jeans.

I wanted to kiss her all night long, and not only on the mouth. Trailing kisses as I went, I moved to her earlobe and then to the spot just behind it. Her skin was soft and surprisingly warm. I could make her a lot warmer if she'd let me.

I stopped to whisper in her ear. "You're addicting. You know that?"

It was true. Even before now, I'd wanted Chloe more than I'd ever wanted any other girl. Yeah, I'd been with a lot – starlets, pop stars, and some swimsuit model, to name a few.

They were nothing compared to her. They were just noise. Chloe, she was the real deal.

She felt right in my arms and right in my house. I wanted to pack her stuff and move her in. Crazy, yeah. I knew that. But still, as we kissed, the thoughts kept coming. What would it be like to have her here with me, always?

My hands dipped to her waist, and then a couple inches lower. I paused, giving her the chance to stop me if this was too much, too fast. That was something new, too. With most girls, I didn't have to stop, and I didn't have to wonder, because they were naked and willing in no time flat.

But now, this was Chloe. She wasn't naked, but I wanted her to be. I let my hands roam lower. I skimmed the thin fabric of her lacy panties, and felt her backside tighten when she ground against me.

She was making me crazy, and I loved every second. I cupped her cheeks and pulled her close, feeling my hardness surging as our lips kept moving. I decided that I hated my jeans. I hated her panties. I hated everything that was coming between us. I wanted it all gone,now.

Take it slow, I reminded myself.

But it was so damn hard.Iwas so damn hard.

Our kisses were frantic now, not so gentle, but so damn good . When she gave a soft moan against my mouth, it sent ripples through me that I hadn't felt in, well, forever.