Page 38 of Secrets Hidden In The Glass

“You’ve never been in love before?”

She huffed out a small laugh. “Not even close.”

“So does that mean you’re going to hold back on me?”

Her small smile disappeared. “I don’t know.”

He nodded. “At least you’re honest.”

“I try to be.”

“Am I going to have to catch you after I tell you you’re the first person I haven’t been able to stop thinking about in nearly five years?”

She looked down as her fingers tensed against the back of his neck.

He stopped their dance and lifted her chin. “Are you thinking about running on me?”

She shook her head as she looked at him. “No, because I think about you too.”

He caressed the soft skin along her jawline. “What if I tell you I want you—that something about you has captivated me since the first moment I saw you?”

Her pulse pounded in her throat as her breathing grew unsteady.

“There’s something about your eyes,” he said quietly as he held her stare and eased closer, tugging on her bottom lip and nibbling soft, moist skin. “There’s something about you that makes sense.” He pulled gently, nipping her lip again, and nearly lost his mind when she moaned and sagged against him. Capturing her mouth, he plundered, tangling his tongue with hers in a frantic dance. He wrapped his arms around her, walking backward and bringing her with him to the chaise lounge. His calves hit the wooden frame and he sat down, pulling her onto his lap.

She straddled him, gripping his triceps and staring into his eyes as they both fought to catch their breath.

He trailed his hands up and down her back. “Is this okay?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

He came back for another kiss, craving more, and let his hands explore beneath her borrowed sweatshirt, then the T-shirt she wore beneath. He wandered with his palms up the smoothness of her back, then let the pads of his fingers slide along her waist to her belly, finding himself ready to eat her alive when her muscles trembled in reflex to his touch. “I want you,” he whispered, pulling off the hoodie, then her shirt, and looked his fill at small, perky breasts in a sexy white bra. “You’re beautiful.” He went after her neck with gentle kisses, making his way to the barrier of silky fabric. “You’re so beautiful, Callie.”

She surprised him when she reached behind and unfastened the clasp.

Clenching his jaw, he pulled on the thin straps, then cupped her soft skin, teasing her with his thumbs.

She sucked in a quiet breath and arched.

Christ, she was responsive. He brought her to his mouth, taking turns tracing and tugging on her pebbled nipples.

She whimpered, sliding her fingers through his hair and wrapping her arms around his head, keeping him close.

He gripped her hips and rubbed her against his erection. “Let’s go inside.”

She adjusted her legs, hooking them around his waist.

He stood, hurrying toward the stairs that would take them to the second-story hallway.

“Nate,” Shawn’s voice crackled through the radio Nate had brought up to the deck with him. “I’m going to need an assist with a possible DUI down here on Washington Street. I’ve got a couple of the college kids from the marine program pulled over and puking it up on the curb.”

Nate stopped in his tracks, staring into Callie’s eyes. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

She sent him a regretful smile. “Sounds like duty calls.”

He settled his forehead against hers. “Apparently.”

“Nate, do you copy?” Shawn asked.