Chapter 16 Harris #2
Before she can say another word, I hook my hands under her thighs and stand, lifting her off the couch like she weighs nothing.
She gasps, her arms wrapping instinctively around my neck as she clings to me.
I’m strong, Goddammit.
Me Caveman.
“Show-off,” she whispers, but the smile on her face says she’s not complaining.
I start walking toward the hallway, each step slow and deliberate, making sure she feels every bit of my strength holding her securely against me. Her legs tighten around my waist, and the friction sends another jolt of heat straight through me.
I gently press her back against the doorframe for a moment, my lips finding hers again in a kiss that’s deeper, hungrier than before.
Her fingers tug at my hair, and I groan, the sound rumbling between us as her hips shift against mine again.
“Bed,” she murmurs, her voice barely audible between kisses.
The soft mattress dips beneath us, and she pulls me down with her, her body molding perfectly to mine. My hands slide up her sides, pushing her shirt higher until I pull it over her head and toss it aside.
“God, you’re beautiful,” I whisper, taking a moment to admire her, my gaze trailing from her flushed cheeks to the soft curve of her waist.
She bites her bottom lip, her eyes dark with desire, and it’s all the encouragement I need.
Her hands find the hem of my shirt, and she tugs it upward, like she can’t wait to feel my skin against hers.
I pull it off in one motion and toss it to the floor before leaning down to kiss her again.
Her fingers trace the lines of my chest and abs, her touch light but electric, making my muscles tense under her fingertips.
“You’re so hot,” Lucy breathes, dragging her nails down my stomach.
Her hips lift, pressing against mine, and I groan, the friction almost too much to handle. My hands move to her waist, fingers slipping under the elastic of her leggings. I pause, looking up at her, giving her a chance to stop me.
“Is this okay?” I ask, my voice rough with restraint.
Her gaze meets mine, and she nods, her voice soft but sure. “Yeah. More than okay.”
I slide her leggings down, leaving a trail of kisses along her thighs as I go. She’s trembling beneath me, her breathing shallow, and I can’t help but smile, knowing I’m the reason for it.
When I finally return to her lips, she pulls me closer, her hands roaming over my back as if she can’t get enough. Her legs wrap around my waist, and the feel of her pressed against me has my control hanging by a thread.
“You’re making it really hard to take things slow,” I murmur against her mouth, my hands gripping her hips.
She grins, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Who said I wanted slow?”
Her words are like gasoline on a fire, and I crash my lips against hers, my movements growing more urgent as the last of my restraint slips away. Her hands explore every inch of me, and I do the same, memorizing the way her body responds to my touch.
“I’ve wanted to get you naked since the second I saw you at that coffee shop.”
“Really?” Lucy hesitates. “I was wearing yoga clothes.”
“I know.” I nod. “So hot.”
She laughs. “You have terrible taste.”
“Not even a little,” I counter, kissing the corner of her mouth. “You looked like trouble. The kind of trouble I knew I wanted to be in.”
Lucy shakes her head, still grinning. “You’re ridiculous.”
“And you love it,” I tease, trailing kisses down her neck, savoring the way her body arches into me.
“I’m considering it,” she whispers. Her nails trace lazy patterns down my spine, leaving a trail of heat behind them.
I’m considering it . . . What does that mean?
This isn’t a fling, but it’s certainly not a forever thing.
Is it?
Lucy’s breath brushes against my neck, pulling me back into the moment. Every soft touch from her feels like a brand, a reminder of how badly I want this, even if I don’t know what this is supposed to be.
Maybe it’s complicated. Or maybe it’s simple right now—two people who can’t seem to stay away from each other.
Her lips graze my collarbone, and I shiver, my hands tightening on her hips instinctively.
I tilt her chin up so I can meet her gaze, and for a moment, neither of us says anything.
It’s like we’re both holding our breath, waiting to see who will speak first, who will say something that pushes this moment past the point of no return.
“What are you thinking?” she whispers, her voice soft but searching.
I could lie. I could say something smooth and simple that keeps the mood light, keeps us exactly where we are. But the way she’s looking at me—like she’s trying to read my mind—makes me hesitate.
“Honestly?” I exhale, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. “I’m thinking about what you meant when you said you’re considering it.”
Her brow furrows slightly, like she wasn’t expecting me to ask. “Ah.”
“Yeah.” I offer a small smile, hoping I’m not ruining the moment. “Are you considering liking me, or are you considering where this is going?”
Lucy bites her lip, and for a second, I think I’ve overstepped. But then she sighs, her fingers stilling against my back. “Maybe both.”
My heart does a weird, hopeful lurch. “Okay,” I say carefully. “What do you want to do about that?”
She hesitates, her gaze flicking between my eyes like she’s trying to figure out what I’m thinking. “I don’t know.”
At least she’s being honest.
And. At least I know she likes me for me—not because I make a shit ton of money and play football on national television.
I press a kiss to her lips, taking a moment to think. “We don’t have to figure it all out tonight.”
Her body relaxes. I take that as a good sign.
“You’re right,” she murmurs. “We don’t.”
I don’t hesitate. I close the space between us again, capturing her lips in a kiss that’s deeper, more deliberate than before.
I groan, the sound low and rough. When I reach the hollow below her collarbone, her body shivers beneath me, and I smile against her skin, proud that I know exactly how to get this reaction out of her.
Her hands are everywhere—my chest, my shoulders, my hair—like she’s trying to feel as much of me as possible.
My hand slips under her bra, cupping her breast, and when my thumb brushes over her hardened nipple, her body arches into me. I trail kisses down her neck and across her chest, taking my time, savoring the way she responds to every touch, every kiss.
Her breath is shallow, her fingers tightening in my hair as I slide her bra straps down her shoulders and unclasp it. The fabric falls away, and I take a moment to look at her, completely captivated.
“Perfect,” I murmur, brushing a kiss over the swell of her breast.
She gasps softly, her back arching as I trail my mouth lower, my lips and tongue teasing her until she’s squirming beneath me. Her hands tug at the waistband of my jeans, and I chuckle against her skin.
“Impatient, are we?”
“Yes.” She shoots me a playful glare, her breath hitching when my fingers skim her waist. “Take them off.”
I don’t need to be told twice.
I kick off my jeans, and her hands are back on me in an instant, exploring the bare skin of my hips and thighs. The heat between us is unbearable now, and when her hips grind against mine, the thin barrier of fabric between us feels like too much.
I slip her thong down her legs, my hands trembling slightly as I toss them aside . . .
Ease my way down her body, crawling down, kissing her stomach along the way.
Her hands are in my hair, fingers scratching my scalp.
Encouraging me.