Page 190 of Next to Everything We Wanted

Gavin glanced back and forth between me and the painting, a slow smirk growing on his face. “I’ll show you.” He took the button-down he wore over his T-shirt off. He lifted the T-shirt, revealing his abs. “This shirt is a little tight. I might need some help taking it off.”

Tingles erupted all over my skin. “I think I can help.”

I grabbed the bottom of his shirt and slowly pulled it over his head. The more his abs and chest showed, the more heat swirled in my veins. His skin was pale but warm-toned, smooth against my hands. He definitely didn’t need any tattoos on his front—he was a work of art.

“Hey, my eyes are up here,” Gavin said, pointing to his eyes.

I giggled. “As if I don’t always get lost in them. They’re just like the ocean in your painting.”

“You compare my eyes to the ocean, too?”

“Who else does?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Someone who I’m nervous for because he writes his own song lyrics.” He chuckled. “The comparison is better coming from you.”

I grinned. “Thank you.”

Gavin smiled and turned around, revealing the artwork on his back. The sun shone in the sky, parting the thick clouds as waves sat below. It was just like the painting, only drawn in black lines.

“Whoa.” I traced my finger on his cool skin, feeling out each edge of the drawing. “It’s beautiful. Just like you.” I knew I was being cheesy, but I meant every word.

There wasn’t anyone as beautiful as him.

“Thank you.” Gavin turned his head and smiled. “It hurt a little, but it was worth it.”

I pressed my lips against his back, absorbing the mixture of warmth and coolness of his skin. “Can I do this?” I asked in almost a whisper.

He nodded. “Feel it.”

I trailed my lips along the lines of his tattoo, recreating the scene with my mouth. Gavin let out a heavy sigh, one that made a current of pleasure zip through me. My kisses traveled to his neck, and I was back to tracing the cloud tattoo with my lips.

A deep noise escaped from his throat. “Dang, maybe I should get more tattoos if you’re going to dothat.”

My breaths came out in short bursts. “I’m just tatting you up myself,” I managed to say, my blood pounding in my ears.

He chuckled. “I’m not complaining.”

Unable to keep myself together, I sat in front of him and pressed his mouth to mine. Our lips picked up where they’d left off earlier. My knees hugged his hips as he pulled me closer to him until we were chest to chest, my body molding to his. The air in the room evaporated. There were no distractions, no room to breathe, nothing but the intoxicating feeling washing over me like a bucket of ice water.

Gosh, and to think I’d almost let him go.

It would’ve been the biggest mistake of my life.

Every time his mouth brushed against mine, a sharp sensation jabbed me in the ribs, like my lungs were seconds away from bursting. This kiss was so different from all the ones we’d had before, so hot it had my blood burning, my veins throbbing. My hands roamed all over his edges, from his chest to his stomach to his back.

“I think I want a tattoo for my eighteenth birthday,” I murmured between kisses. “One that will remind me of you.”

Gavin let out a few breaths before speaking, sweat running down his forehead. Gosh, how could someone look so hot when sweating up a storm? “Want an entire painting on your back, too?”

“Maybe not that.” I laughed. “I don’t think I can handle the needle for that long.”

“You have time to prepare yourself.” He rubbed circles along my back in the way that I loved, sending chills down my spine. “I can even come with you.”

“I’d love that.” I wrapped my arms around his neck, kissing him harder on the mouth. “I always love the idea of spending time with you.”

He grinned against my mouth. “And we have all the time the world will give us to be together.”

Epilogue