trouble getting the key into the lock, making her feel like an even bigger idiot.
And then the key turned and the door opened and she stepped inside, her palm sliding against the wall to hit the light switch. She turned, hoping that Justin followed her in, but he was still standing in the hallway, his hand braced against the doorframe.
Like he was afraid of crossing some boundary, like holding onto the doorframe was an anchor of some kind.
"I had fun tonight." She stepped a little closer to him. Not much, just an inch or two.
The corner of his mouth tilted into a small smile. "Yeah? Good. I did, too."
God, why was this so hard? So damn difficult? All the nights they had spent talking at the bar, all the conversations over the past year. Even tonight. None of those times had been like this. Strained, awkward, uncertain.
It wasn't even like they hadn't been together already, like this would be the first time. And after the steamy kisses downstairs—surely Justin wanted to come in, didn't he?
Unless he didn't, and he wasn't sure how to let her down gently.
And oh my God, she was just going to drive herself crazy. This wasn't her, this being so uncertain, being afraid to speak up. She wasn't going to find any answers if she didn't ask the questions. And whether it was the answer she wanted or not, she had to ask if she wanted to find out.
Val took a deep breath and stepped a little closer. "Did…did you want to come inside?"
Heat and excitement flashed in Justin's eyes. And something else, something that almost looked like relief. She barely had time to blink, time to step back before he was standing in front of her. The door closed with a loud click as his arms wrapped around her, pulling her close.
"I was hoping you'd ask."
And then his mouth was on hers, his warm, wonderful, amazingly talented mouth, and Val forgot why she was so hesitant to ask him in the first place.
Chapter Ten
Heat exploded inside her, instantaneous and all-consuming. Val pressed her body against Justin's, needing to feel him. All of him.
Her shoes and purse fell from nerveless fingers as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Giving in, surrendering to the wonders of his kiss. All this, from a kiss.
Insanity. The word dashed through her mind, there and gone in a heartbeat. She didn't care. If this was insanity, then she'd gladly be committed. As long as she could have Justin's kisses, as long as she could feel the hard heat of his body against hers, she didn't care.
His hands cupped her face, tilting her head back as he trailed his mouth from her lips, to her jaw, to her throat. Back again. Over and over until she could do nothing more than stand there, holding onto him so she didn't collapse into a puddle at his feet.
"Valerie." Just her name, but so much more, a ragged whisper full of need, a question and answer at the same time. She clung to Justin, sagging against him as his hands caressed her back, cupped her ass and tilted her hips toward his. Val moaned, rubbing herself against his hard length, heard his moan echo in her ear.
Too much, not enough. She wanted more. Needed more. She dragged her hands along his shoulders, down to the edges of his sport jacket, and pushed it off. Her fingers fumbled with the buttons of his shirt, undoing them one by one, not stopping until she felt bare skin.
Hard, hot. Val ran her fingers along his chest, memorizing each dip and plane. His muscles tightened and flexed under her touch, his breath hitching when she ran her palms over his flat nipples.
He groaned, his mouth crashing against hers, harder, more demanding. His hands tightened around her hips, lifting, guiding as she wrapped her legs around his waist. Then he was walking, carrying her further into the apartment, through the living room and down the hallway, not stopping until they reached her room.
He lowered her onto the mattress, following her down, never breaking the kiss. His hands were magic, everywhere at once, stroking,
And then the key turned and the door opened and she stepped inside, her palm sliding against the wall to hit the light switch. She turned, hoping that Justin followed her in, but he was still standing in the hallway, his hand braced against the doorframe.
Like he was afraid of crossing some boundary, like holding onto the doorframe was an anchor of some kind.
"I had fun tonight." She stepped a little closer to him. Not much, just an inch or two.
The corner of his mouth tilted into a small smile. "Yeah? Good. I did, too."
God, why was this so hard? So damn difficult? All the nights they had spent talking at the bar, all the conversations over the past year. Even tonight. None of those times had been like this. Strained, awkward, uncertain.
It wasn't even like they hadn't been together already, like this would be the first time. And after the steamy kisses downstairs—surely Justin wanted to come in, didn't he?
Unless he didn't, and he wasn't sure how to let her down gently.
And oh my God, she was just going to drive herself crazy. This wasn't her, this being so uncertain, being afraid to speak up. She wasn't going to find any answers if she didn't ask the questions. And whether it was the answer she wanted or not, she had to ask if she wanted to find out.
Val took a deep breath and stepped a little closer. "Did…did you want to come inside?"
Heat and excitement flashed in Justin's eyes. And something else, something that almost looked like relief. She barely had time to blink, time to step back before he was standing in front of her. The door closed with a loud click as his arms wrapped around her, pulling her close.
"I was hoping you'd ask."
And then his mouth was on hers, his warm, wonderful, amazingly talented mouth, and Val forgot why she was so hesitant to ask him in the first place.
Chapter Ten
Heat exploded inside her, instantaneous and all-consuming. Val pressed her body against Justin's, needing to feel him. All of him.
Her shoes and purse fell from nerveless fingers as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Giving in, surrendering to the wonders of his kiss. All this, from a kiss.
Insanity. The word dashed through her mind, there and gone in a heartbeat. She didn't care. If this was insanity, then she'd gladly be committed. As long as she could have Justin's kisses, as long as she could feel the hard heat of his body against hers, she didn't care.
His hands cupped her face, tilting her head back as he trailed his mouth from her lips, to her jaw, to her throat. Back again. Over and over until she could do nothing more than stand there, holding onto him so she didn't collapse into a puddle at his feet.
"Valerie." Just her name, but so much more, a ragged whisper full of need, a question and answer at the same time. She clung to Justin, sagging against him as his hands caressed her back, cupped her ass and tilted her hips toward his. Val moaned, rubbing herself against his hard length, heard his moan echo in her ear.
Too much, not enough. She wanted more. Needed more. She dragged her hands along his shoulders, down to the edges of his sport jacket, and pushed it off. Her fingers fumbled with the buttons of his shirt, undoing them one by one, not stopping until she felt bare skin.
Hard, hot. Val ran her fingers along his chest, memorizing each dip and plane. His muscles tightened and flexed under her touch, his breath hitching when she ran her palms over his flat nipples.
He groaned, his mouth crashing against hers, harder, more demanding. His hands tightened around her hips, lifting, guiding as she wrapped her legs around his waist. Then he was walking, carrying her further into the apartment, through the living room and down the hallway, not stopping until they reached her room.
He lowered her onto the mattress, following her down, never breaking the kiss. His hands were magic, everywhere at once, stroking,
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