Chapter 8
Brennan’s fingers, gentle against her head, eased her closer.
His smile reached his eyes, taking Evie’s breath away even before a single touch from his lips.
He tilted her head. A whisper of warmth dusted her cheek the moment before his lips touched there.
Her breath hitched as he placed feather-light kisses ever so slowly closer to her lips.
Anticipation rose. The butterflies woke from their brief hibernation, fluttering wildly in her stomach.
His heart pounded under her hand, and hers matched its rhythm.
The heat from his hand on her hip seared through her pajamas.
His gorgeous dark green gaze locked with hers for what seemed like an eternity, but in reality it was barely a second, and then finally!
It was worth the wait.
His lips were warm and soft. Pure heaven against her own. Firm yet tender. Sweet and perfect.
A meeting of lips that wasn’t just lips, but body, soul, and breath.
The absolute and utter disappearance of everything else in the world.
Brennan.
Evie.
The Kiss.
That was all that existed. That was all that mattered.
It was the perfect first kiss.
And oh boy, could this man kiss. There was no rush. He tasted and explored. Played and caressed.
Every touch, every stroke, every whisper of breath took her deeper into the heart of the sensation storm brewing inside her. A moan, a whimper, a desperate plea for more, escaped her. Sounds of pleasure from deep inside she didn’t know a kiss was capable of inducing.
Only when she had absolutely no breath left in her body did she reluctantly pull back.
“Wow,” Evie whispered, her chest heaving in the effort to reclaim the oxygen she desperately needed.
Brennan shifted his hand from behind her head to cup her cheek. She leaned into his touch, the taste of his kiss still dancing on her lips.
“Wow, indeed.”
“Should’ve done that a long time ago.”
Brennan’s chuckle rumbled through her at the points their bodies touched. “Not sure if it would’ve been that good any sooner.”
That sounded like a man who perhaps believed a little in fate. Grandma would approve.
“I’m not so sure.” Evie had learned a lot about Brennan over the last year.
He never did things by halves. She’d witnessed it plenty of times with his family and his work in the community, not to mention the day he’d helped her move.
Just never this up-close-and-personal before. Everything clearly meant everything.
“Evie.”
“Yeah.”
“I need you to get up.”
“I’m sorry.” Mortified that she needed to be asked, heat burned her cheeks.
That she hadn’t even registered she must be squashing him, was testament to the distracting powers of the man’s kiss.
Evie pushed up and rolled off. The groan her movement drew from him had her registering exactly where her knee had made contact.
“I’m…” Heat flooded her cheeks again as she stared at the ceiling. “I’m so sorry.”
“Evie. Stop saying sorry.”
“I’m —” She snapped her mouth closed on the automatic apology as he rose above her.
“Otherwise,”—he grinned—“I’ll have to kiss you every time you do.”
That got her attention, the heat in her cheeks no longer caused by mortification but interest. She had to admit she enjoyed ‘Flirty Brennan’.
“I’m… sorry?” She layered on the innocence with a breathy voice.
He growled. Literally growled and then his lips were back on hers. No other parts of their bodies touched, but it didn’t matter. That one place was enough to send her body up in flames. Totally worth it.
Brennan eased the kiss to a close. “You’re trouble,” he whispered.
“But you like it, right?”
“I like you.” His hand cradled her cheek, and he smiled. “And now you need to go to bed.”
“Not without you.”
“Evie.”
There was a little rumble between the ‘E’ and the ‘v’ as he drew out her name, the warning clear. It did funny little things to her breathing and her heartbeat.
Funny little things she’d not object to experiencing again with him.
“You’re not sleeping out here,” she said. “I don’t want you falling off it again.” This time she reached up and cupped his cheek, easing him close enough so she could brush a light kiss on his lips.
“I don’t want you hurt,” she added softly. When there wasn’t an immediate protest, she pushed a little more. “I promise I won’t have my wicked way with you.”
His lips twitched. “But what about me?”
“Anytime you want.” She rose and walked backwards. “Are you coming or not?”
He was on his feet in a flash, and before she knew it, he’d drawn her into his arms. He tilted her head back. His eyes were in the shadows, but she could imagine them being a deep forest green.
“I want to take this slow.” He traced her lips gently with the tip of his finger. “I’ve waited a long time for you. I’m going to enjoy every minute, and no step in this relationship…”
Frown lines creased his forehead, and she wanted to kiss them away.
“You do want a relationship, right? With me?” he asked.
Evie didn’t need to think. “Yes.” Her heart spoke for her. Frankly, she was tired of fighting it over this man. Something had shifted tonight. Her heart had won.
“Then slow.” Brennan pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Thorough.” A kiss to the tip of her nose. “And perfect.” Lips to lips. And not anywhere near long enough. Before she could steal a kiss of her own, he scooped her up into his arms. Hers shot around his neck and she held on tight.
“I’ve got you, Evie,” he said. “I’ll never let you fall.”
“Not even for you?”
He turned his head, lips so close, but she didn’t take advantage. “I’m hoping you’re already there. I know I am.”
Oh boy. Was she in trouble? Or the luckiest girl in the world? Either way, she’d take it. “Brennan?”
“Yes.” He set her on her feet beside her bed and reached down to toss back the covers.
Evie stood there, staring at him in the dim light from the lantern. He raised an eyebrow but didn’t rush her. Just waited patiently for her to speak.
“If I am,” she said, “can I keep falling for a bit longer? I like this feeling.”
“You can fall forever, if you want. I’ll always be here.”