When We Kiss: An enemies-to-lovers, opposites-attract romantic comedy

by Tia Louise

Emberly is beside me with both hands on her mouth, murmuring, “Do it… Do it…”

  That full smile I love breaks across Chad’s face, and he quickly bends down, lifting me in his arms, Cinderella style.

  “An Officer and a Gentleman!” Emberly squeals.

  André lets out a loud whoop from the front of the store. Donna sighs, and I put an arm around Chad’s shoulder, pulling my face to his neck to hide the smile breaking my cheeks. He turns and heads to the door as Betty Pepper exclaims, “And in my store!”

  Roxanne calls out, “That’s my girl!”

  Only one thing is on my mind, and as soon as we’re out the door, Chad makes it happen. He stops and puts me on my feet, stepping closer to cup my face. His head lowers, and those whiskey eyes smile into mine. I’m breathing fast and my lips part before his even touch them.

  Like the brush of a feather, he speaks against my skin. “I want you so much.”

  With that he kisses me, and my entire body ignites. Mouths open, tongues caress, and I grip his shoulders to stay on my feet amidst the onslaught of emotion sweeping through me like a tidal wave.

  His lips move mine, and my lips chase after his. Our faces move, and his large hands are on my ass, gripping, sliding up to my waist, up my back and into my hair. A deep sense of home warms my stomach. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt.

  “Oh, man.” He lifts his chin to kiss my cheek, my forehead. “It’s just like I remember. We need a room.”

  My hands are on his neck, his cheeks. I run my fingernails through his beard. “My place is closer.”

  Looking down, he smiles again, placing his hand on my cheek, his thumb on my bottom lip. I want to pull it into my mouth and suck it. I want to hear him groan my name like he does when he comes so impossibly deep between my thighs.

  Hot dark eyes burn me from within, and I know he’s thinking the same thing as me. “Let’s go.”

  Twenty-Seven

  Chad

  Tabby stands in the center of her living room, feet bare, silky dark curls all around her shoulders. Her fingers quickly unfasten the gold buttons of my jacket. I slide my fingers under the spaghetti straps of her dress, lowering them.

  As soon as they pass her elbows, she straightens her arms and the entire garment slides to the floor. She sighs. “It’s a little big on me.”

  She’s not wearing a bra, and when I see her beautiful breasts, the semi I’ve been sporting since I saw her turns to a rod of iron. “I’m glad.”

  Sliding my hand up the soft skin of her waist, past her ribs, she does a little shiver. It’s the sexiest thing I’ve seen today—since I found her standing at the back of Betty’s store.

  I cup her round breasts, squeezing them in my hands. Her nipples are tight, and I roll the hard tips between my fingers. She exhales a soft moan, and my jacket is open, revealing the white tank underneath.

  She smooths her hands up my shoulders, and I temporarily release her to place my coat on the back of her office chair. Turning back, I have to take a moment to admire her standing in only a black lace thong before me.

  “Damn, Tabby, you’re sexier now than when I left.”

  Her cheeks flush a pretty pink and she shakes her head, crossing to me. “I look exactly the same. We haven’t seen each other in a week.”

  “Longer.”

  She slides her hand up and down, cupping and stroking my dick through my pants, and a groan rumbles from my throat. “Don’t make me come in my dress whites.”

  “That’d be an interesting story for the dry cleaners.” Her green eyes glow and she gives me a naughty, sex-kitten grin.

  I make quick work of removing the rest of my clothes, not missing the way her full bottom lip goes under her teeth at the sight of my cock.

  “What did you call him?” I fist my shaft, sliding my hand up and down, running my finger over the drop of liquid on the tip.

  “Andy the anaconda.” Her eyes don’t leave my hand, and I chuckle. “Andy misses your tight little pussy. I’ll have to give her a name.”

  “I don’t care what you call her. Just get over here.”

  Stepping forward, I grasp her neck with my other hand, tilting her head back and leaning down to pull her mouth with mine. I thrust my tongue inside and curl it with hers, then I release my dick and grab her by the ass, lifting her off the floor and pushing her back to the wall.

  “Oh, shit yeah,” she gasps, but I can’t sink into her now. I’ll come in two pumps or less. Instead, I take a knee, holding her open by her thighs, pulling those sexy panties away, and covering her pretty pussy with my mouth, sucking and licking, tracing my tongue all around the hard little button in the center.

  “Chad… Oh… Oh!” Her fingers are in my hair, threading and pulling. I feel the muscles in her thighs jump with every pass of my tongue. “Chad… I’m going to come.”

  Moving my mouth to the crease of her leg, I kiss her, looking up at her heavy lidded eyes. “Say my name again.”

  “Chad,” she moans, and I give her another lick.

  Her hips jump and she breaks into trembling orgasm. A loud moan comes from her throat and I stand all the way, lifting her by the ass and wrapping those legs around my waist as I position my tip at her entrance and sink all the way, balls deep into her tight, wet heat.

  “Yes…” I hold a second, her body pressed to mine, my mouth at her neck, feeling those little spasms all around me. “You feel so damn good.”

  On every breath, she makes a little noise. It’s the fucking best thing I’ve heard in so long. She tightens her thighs, lifting herself and trying to move. I grip her ass and give her a firm thrust. It gets me another soft whimper. The sound is a match to gasoline. I’m thrusting fast and hard, and she’s gripping, scratching my skin with her nails.

  Our mouths chase each other’s, kissing, tasting, sucking. “Chad… Chad…” She whispers my name between every kiss, and it’s a shot of happiness, pure fucking joy filling my chest, blowing my mind. This is real.

  Two more thrusts, and she breaks, coming again, and the sensation sparks my own orgasm. Pleasure snakes up my legs from the arches of my feet through my thighs, pulsing out into her, hot and hard, over and over.

  My eyes close, my mind blanks as we’re flying through the air, jumping off the highest cliffs into shimmering oceans below. I hold her tight against me as the shudders move through us both, shaking us, changing us, bonding us together.

  When at last we’re able to open our eyes again, wonder is in our gaze.

  Tabby places her hand against my jaw. “I don’t ever want you to leave me again,” she whispers.

  I kiss her gently. “I won’t ever leave you again.”

  She blinks, and I catch sight of something glistening in her eyes before she leans forward, wrapping her arms around my neck and holding me. My hands are on her smooth back, and I’m still buried deep in her sexy little body.

  A sniff, and she tucks her head in my shoulder to kiss my neck.

  “Hey,” I give her a little shake. “Are you crying?’

  She shakes her head and lifts it, but when I find her eyes, I see tears. She starts to laugh. “I’m so emotional lately. It’s silly.”

  “As long as those are happy tears.” I kiss them away. “I told you a while back you’re mine, Tabitha Green.”

  Her hands are on my face again, and she runs her thumbs over my mouth. “I’m yours, Chad Tucker, and you’re mine.”

  I kiss those fingers, kiss her lips. I never want to let her go, but I lower her, sliding out and going to the bathroom for something to clean us up. I return with a towel, and I see she’s used tissues from her desk.

  She’s wearing her sundress again and sitting at her computer.

  I clean myself up and toss the towel in the hamper in her closet. “How did the launch go?” I ask, walking back into the living room.

  “Really well.” Her eyes are focused on the screen, and I kiss her neck. “Hang on, I want to tell you something, but I need to see if it happened firs
t.”

  “Here.” I lift her out of the chair and sit down, positioning her in my lap like before.

  She laughs. “Just hold that thought…” She types briefly, a few more clicks, then she lets out a little whoop and claps her hands. “It’s there! Oh my goodness, check this out. Okay…” she wriggles around in my lap so cute, I can’t help grinning in response. “So I know you told me to wait, but I went on and gave Rani and AJ my answer about their job offer.”

  My chest clenches and I sit up straighter, adjusting her so I can see her face. “What did you say?”

  She places a hand on my cheek and leans forward to kiss me. Then she leans up and meets my eyes. “I told them no.”

  Happiness rises in my chest, but I tamp it down. I catch her arms and ask her seriously. “Why did you say no? Was it just because of me? Because—”

  “It was because of you, yes, but it was also because of other things.” Her pretty brow furrows, and she looks over my head. “I thought about being gone all the time, not seeing Emberly, missing Coco grow up… I guess I kind of love this town after all.”

  My hands are on her smooth thighs. I start to slide them higher, and she squeals. “Wait! There’s more. Let me show you.”

  She rotates in the chair, and I lean forward exhaling a growl at her neck as I wrap my arms around her waist. “I haven’t been with you in almost two weeks. Hurry up.”

  A shiver moves through her body, and her protests are less convincing. “You need to see this. It’s important.” She clicks over to a different screen. “When I first started working with Travel Time, the deal was my flat rate for web design, plus the hourly rate, bonuses for making our deadlines… Well, they were so happy with how things turned out, they gave me bonus airfare and comps on several packages.”

  I sit up. She has my attention now. “They’re letting you travel—”

  “Whenever I want, as long as I want. Only, now you can come with me! Oceanside can be our home base, and we can still be together.”

  That makes me smile. I trace my finger across her cheek. “What changed?”

  She looks down at her wrist. “I reminded myself to believe. I believe in us. I don’t want to see the world with anyone but you. I love you.”

  Heat explodes in my chest, and I catch her face, kissing her roughly. “I love you, Tabitha Green.” Tears are in her eyes again, and I kiss them away.

  I lift her onto Andy, and for a little while, it’s only us and love. Touching, feeling, our bodies becoming one. It’s bliss, pure and simple, primal. It’s the only thing I ever want.

  When we’re drifting down once more, from another incredible high, her soft body secure in my arms, I can’t help teasing her. “Are you sure you want to be the girlfriend of a law man?”

  “A sexy military man?” She arches an eyebrow and sighs. “I don’t think I’ll ever lose my love of being bad. Maybe you can help me find more creative ways to channel it.”

  “I found some fluffy purple handcuffs at a novelty store in Charleston. They’re in my suitcase waiting to be tested.”

  “You’re the only man I ever want to tie me down.” Her nose wrinkles and she rubs it against mine.

  “What are you saying, Tabitha Green?” I’ve also got a rock in my suitcase, and I can’t wait to put it on her finger.

  “I’m saying kiss me.” Her voice is a purr.

  And I do, because when we kiss…

  Everything is exactly how it should be.

  Epilogue

  Tabby

  Six weeks later…

  Caribbean breezes swirl through the open doors of our cabana. We’re lying in bed, sweating and breathing hard after another round of smoking hot sex.

  “Best twenty-five dollars I’ve ever spent.” Chad’s hand is on my ass, and I chuckle.

  One fluffy purple handcuff hangs from my wrist, and I lift it, unbuckling the straps. “Way less painful.”

  “I take it you’re not into the pleasure through pain shit.”

  My nose wrinkles, and I toss the cuffs on a chair. “I don’t really get that. Pain is just painful in my book. It’s kind of a deal breaker.”

  “Got it. No metal cuffs.” He rolls onto his side next to me, and I turn my face to kiss his chest. “How much longer do you think we’ll be able to use them before it’s too much?”

  His eyes are on my flat stomach, where he slides his large palm down. I slide my hand to meet his, threading my fingers, and I can’t believe it. A real bubble of happiness rises in my chest. No fear, no regrets, I’m going to be a mamma, and I absolutely can’t wait.

  “I’m sure it won’t matter for at least a few more months. Should I ask Dr. Peters how long we can keep having kinky sex? My law enforcement boyfriend likes me in handcuffs?”

  “Whatever you think is right, my love.”

  His arm tightens around me, and I exhale a lazy laugh. Since we found out two weeks ago I was pregnant, we decided to go ahead and get at least one trip in before we became a threesome.

  We made the journey to Belize, and even though scuba diving is off the table for me while I’m pregnant, I still begged to take a boat out and at least look at The Great Blue Hole.

  “Can you imagine what all is down there?” I’d looked longingly at the royal blue waters, leading to caverns and coral reefs far below.

  “Giant squids and Anglerfish.” Chad had sat behind me, strong arms around my waist, as we observed it from the boat. “No way in hell I’m letting you dive into that thing. It’s creepy as fuck.”

  I’d only laughed and put my hand over his arm. “It’s not so dangerous. We’ll come back and check it out one day.”

  “In a submarine.”

  “Can you get one of those?”

  That made him laugh. “No.”

  The rest of our visit is primarily lounging on the beach, snorkeling, and eating out. The pregnancy makes me so tired, and I’ve started taking naps. Chad is happy to join me, which leads to more than napping…

  “Did you know Chad means protector in old English?” My cheek is against his chest, and my eyes are heavy.

  “Did you know that Tabitha means beautiful in Hebrew?”

  My head pops up. “Really? Does it matter if I’m not Jewish?”

  “Apparently not. You are beautiful.”

  That makes me smile. “Did you know Andy means large dong in Greek?”

  “Is that so?” He fights a laugh, but that dimple appears.

  “Yes, and in Mesopotamian it means happy snake in pants.” He loses the fight with laughter, and his fingers curl on my ribs, making me squeal in response. “No tickling! It’s bad for the baby!”

  He only tickles me more, and I struggle until I’m under him again, soft lips covering mine, scratchy beard roughing my skin. I thread my fingers in his hair as my stomach tightens and tingles move through my lower pelvis.

  Chad’s kisses are rich and delicious, and I could make out with him for hours.

  “Since we’re naming things, what’s the name for hot little pussy?” His lips move to my jaw, down my neck.

  “Mm, dirty talk. Jezebel?”

  He continues down, pausing to kiss my right breast then my left before stopping all together at my navel. His eyes are on my skin, and he places his palm flat on my stomach.

  “Do you think he can hear us yet?” He leans closer. “Hello in there?”

  Propping up on my elbows, I look down at this great big man completely captivated by my midsection. It’s not where I expected him to stop, but I love it just the same.

  “So we’re’ having a boy?” Reaching down, I slide my fingernails through his beard.

  “I don’t care.” He glances up at me, and I smile.

  “I guess I should get one of those baby books. I was going to make Emberly tell me everything.”

  “Emberly might be a bit distracted.”

  “You’re right. I’ll get a baby book.”

  Shortly after Chad and I reunited, actually before we’d even gone public,
Jackson came back to town. Completely out of the blue and with no warning. He just showed up one day answering Wyatt’s ad for a painter.

  Emberly was in the middle of making her first penis cake for Donna White’s bachelorette party—ordered by Betty Pepper, of course—and it was like a major earthquake. It didn’t just shake up my best friend, it shook up everything from her mother to my uncle to…

  Well, that’s a story for another time. For now, my sexy man is trying to make my heart burst with joy. He dips down and kisses my stomach. “Hey, baby. We can’t wait to meet you.”

  I lean back and sigh, combing my fingers through his hair as he kisses my belly once more. “We love you.”

  So much love fills my chest. I never dreamed I could be this happy, and it really is like having it all. I’m closing my eyes, expecting him to travel further south when he’s out of the bed so fast, my eyes pop open, and I sit up. “What’s wrong?”

  I watch his tight, sexy ass as he walks across our bedroom to where our empty suitcase is stashed in a closet. “I was going to wait until dinner for this, but I can’t wait any longer. It’s been six weeks of torture.”

  “What’s wrong?” I have no idea what he’s talking about. We already tested out the handcuffs. Several times. Pushing myself up in the bed, I wrap the sheet over my breasts.

  He turns, one hand behind his back and pauses a moment looking at me with a strange smile on his face. It’s happy but also a little hesitant. It’s a smile I haven’t seen since the first time he asked me to go out with him and I said no.

  None of that matters. I’m too distracted by the sight of him standing in the light of the late afternoon sun. His shoulders are broad and his biceps are round and perfectly sculpted. The slanted rays make the lines of his torso deep and so lickable, and Andy standing at half-mast like a promise of all kinds of naughty pleasure has my thighs rubbing together.

  His brow lowers, and that smile turns lusty. “If you don’t stop looking at me that way, I’m going to have to fuck you before I can do this.”

  “I don’t know what this is, but I have no objection to the fucking part.”