Page 27 of The One

“No.” She tightened her grip on my shoulders.

“Then, yes, I’m going to carry you to my bed.”

She wasn’t giving me much time to make this extra special, so even the little shit, like bringing her up to my room this way, mattered. And in return, she kissed me—the whole way to the staircase and up the long flight and down the hallway until we reached my bedroom. I kicked the door closed once we were inside and locked it behind me, finally setting her on the bed.

She gripped the edge of the queen mattress while she looked at me, shoulders caved inward, knees bent and pressed to her chest.

“Don’t be nervous.”

Hair was in her eyes, and she didn’t move it away. “I’m not.”

I knelt in front of her on the floor and lifted the bottom of her dress, caressing her ankles, which earned me a shiver. “You’re sure about that?”

She let out a small laugh. “Okay, maybe a little.”

I gently pulled the dress up her body and over her head, tossing it on the floor behind me. It didn’t take much effort to get her bikini off; I only had to tug on the strings, and the flimsy suit was in my hand, joining her dress somewhere near the door.

This was the first time she had ever been fully naked in front of me. She’d been topless before, and when I went down her pants, her jeans mostly stayed on.

But this was hardcore.

This was a view unlike anything I’d ever seen.

“When you look at me like that”—she paused to pant—“I can barely take it.”

My gaze crawled up her face. “You’re beautiful, Lainey.” It then dipped as low as it could from where I was positioned. “Every part of you.”

She let go of the bed and dived into my hair. “It’s hard to breathe again.”

“It’s only going to get harder, but I need you to keep breathing for me, okay? That’s how you’re going to get through this.”

She gave a slight nod, and I yanked her to the very end of the bed, spreading her legs apart so I could put myself between them. And while she stayed sitting, her shoulders now back and her spine upright, like when a teacher unexpectedly called on her in class, I kissed her.

But this was different than how we’d made out on the way up to my room.

This was even hotter.

I gave her my tongue, and I cupped her tits and ran my thumbs around her nipples. They were already so hard, and I knew—because I’d done this before—that she liked it when I gently pulled them. Not enough to cause her any ache, just enough to make her moan.

And she did.

With every exhale.

When that sound turned louder, relaxation coming through her posture, I rolled her nipples between my fingers and thumbs.

“Rhett …”

“I know you like that.”

“Don’t stop.”

There was heat already coming off her body.

I felt it in her mouth and in the spots pressed against me.

Now, I wanted to taste it.

“Are you wet, Lainey?”