“Day by day.” Just saying the words makes me itch. I don’t know how to do that, but he’s right. We already know each other’s best and worst. There are zero issues with him making himself at home with me, and he gives multiples.
I just have to let go.
We’re walking back to our apartments, his arm around my shoulder, my arm around his back, as though this was how it was always meant to be. We fit—perfectly. And our date is perfection.
After that initial talk about my fears, we settled down into just being Willow and Reid. He told me about the account that he got yesterday and I told him about Aspen’s theories on stars and planets.
It was only a few days that we went without talking, but I felt like I missed so much. Of course, we also managed to gorge ourselves on fondue, so instead of taking a cab, we’re trying to walk off some of the calories. Plus, it gives me a reason to touch him like this.
Which I like ... a lot.
“Should we get ice cream?” he asks.
I nod, even though I’m stuffed. “You know I’ll never say no to that.”
“Oh, I know. Don’t think I didn’t realize last month when the half gallon I bought disappeared from my freezer.”
“I don’t even feel bad about that. You steal my food all the time. And in my defense, Leo gave it to me without a fight.”
“He’s dead to me.”
I slap his chest. “You know, you should be nice to him. If it weren’t for him telling me you were on a date, I would probably never have had the balls to accept what I was feeling for you.”
Reid looks down at me with a grin. “And what are you feeling?”
“Well, I feel like this was a really good first date. And I never want it to end.”
“That makes two of us.”
“And do you think you’ll be asking me on a second date?”
Reid presses his lips to my head. “I’ll let you know.”
I laugh once. “You’re mean.”
“You know who’s mean, that one dude on This is Us! What the hell was he thinking by talking to that one chick?”
I gasp and stop walking, bringing him to a halt. “You watched it? On your own? Without me?”
His lips part and he rolls his eyes. “You left me off in the middle of a pivotal part. You weren’t talking to me, so what choice did I have?”
“Oh, I can think of many, but watching the show you claim to hate isn’t one.”
“Whatever. You know, I actually enjoyed it without listening to your sniffling throughout. Although, Leo was fucking crying, and I would’ve much preferred comforting you to throwing the box of tissues at him.”
I start to laugh and then shake my head. I am never going to let him live this down.
“Don’t give me that look,” he warns.
“What look?”
“The one you gave me just now that says”—his voice goes up a few octaves to mimic mine—“Reid, you’re so sensitive, I knew you liked that show all along.”
“Your words. Not mine. I was going to say that I’m going to plan a marathon for one of our next dates so we can catch up on the episodes we missed and analyze them in depth.”
He moves closer and I have to lean my head back to look at him. “The only thing I want to analyze right now is your naked body.”
I grin because I really want that too. But teasing him is so much fun. “Not until you admit the truth.”
His head drops slowly and my heart begins to pound harder in anticipation. I have to hold out though. No matter how much I want to feel his lips on mine, I’m going to remain strong. His admission is my victory.
“What truth?”
“That you like the show . . .”
“I like you.” He drops a little lower. “I like your lips. I like the way my name sounds on them. I like that right now, your eyes are telling me you really want to kiss me and that’s the damn truth.”
I like that truth, too, but it wasn’t what I was looking for. “Close, but . . .”
His lips are a breath away now, my breathing is accelerated and I don’t think I can hold out. I need to kiss him. “Are you going to deny me, Wills?”
I don’t think I could deny him anything when he’s like this. His cologne, his breath, his heat is all around me. Reid is the only thing that I can feel, see, smell, and hear. God, I could drown in this man and never come up for air.
“Are you going to admit it?” I ask as my last thread of self-restraint snaps.
I can feel his smile against my lips. “Kiss me, Willow and I’ll tell you anything you want to hear.”
What were we talking about again?
I don’t even remember, and honestly, I don’t give a shit. All I care about is him.
My hand reaches up around his neck, and I push up on my toes, bringing our lips together. Reid’s arm tightens, and then I’m flush against his body.
He may have asked for me to kiss him, but he’s in control of this. I let him lead, here on the busy street of Chicago, not caring who walks by or sees. His tongue slides against mine in the most delicious way. I moan, holding him tight, not wanting it to end.
Reid pulls back all too soon. My breath is coming in short puffs and I have a death grip on his arms.
“What was it you wanted me to say?” he asks, his voice deep and raw.
I try to get my brain to start functioning again and once I think I can form words, I smile seductively. “That you want to skip ice cream and come back to my place.”
“Good because I have something else I’d like to lick.”
Fifteen
Reid
I don’t think the walk to our apartment building has ever felt so damn far. She wore the freaking boots with the high heels, which I love, but they’re slowing us down. I’m half tempted to toss her over my shoulder.
Jesus Christ, has there ever been a more intense kiss between two people? No. I don’t think there has.
Each second that passed between us only made the anticipation better. However, I don’t know how the hell I’m going to control myself.
I want her more than anything. I’ve thought of this moment since I had a taste of her and now, I want to feast on her.
“If it wasn’t so cold, I’d take these damn boots off and run,” she says, trying to walk faster.
“Yeah? Why is that?”
She giggles softly. “Oh, I don’t know, because I wish we were up in my apartment already.”
Glad to know she feels the same. “What exactly do you wish we were doing, Wills?”
I’m only torturing myself right now, but I remember what it was like when she let herself go last time.
“You want to know?”
“I want to hear it because once we’re inside that damn door, all bets are off. I’m going to strip you down and my mouth is going to be all over you. You won’t even be able to think, let alone talk.”
It’s only fair she knows what’s coming. Which will be her … many, many times tonight.
“Hmmmm,” she says as I pull open the lobby door. “Let me think.”
I follow her to the elevator and watch her hit the upward arrow. A moment later the doors open, and we get on with several other people.
Which is why it surprises me when she leans over to whisper in my ear. “First, I want to watch you get naked. I want to see how hard you are for me.”
The answer is very hard.
Extremely hard.
Painfully hard.
And her words are making it worse. I have to adjust myself, which makes her laugh.
“Then I might like to get my hands on it,” she continues softly. “You know. Play around a little.” She puts a hand over my crotch and squeezes for a second. We’re at the back of the elevator, so I don’t think anyone noticed, but still.
A small sound emits from the back of my throat, and I turn it into a cough.
“Then I think I’d like to taste it.” She gets even closer to my ear, so close I can feel her lips. “Lick it. Suck
it.”
The elevator doors open on our floor, and I bolt through them like a rifle shot, dragging her behind me. “Yours or mine?”
She’s laughing as she stumbles along in her heels. “Mine.”
I stop in front of her door. “Open it. Right the fuck now.”
She takes the key from her purse, and I grab it out of her hand, shoving it into the lock. I turn it, throw the door open, yank her through, and toss the key on the floor. “You were saying?”
Her smile says come get me as she backs into the living room. There’s only one lamp on, so I can barely make out the fire in her eyes, but I know it’s there. I’m walking straight toward her, my hands loosening the knot in my tie.
“Are you going to give me what I want?” she asks breathlessly, dropping onto the couch.
I want to rip that dress off her and ravage her in ten different ways, but there’s something hot about letting her think she’s the boss.
For a minute or two anyway.
I pull my tie off and throw it aside—not too far, since it could be useful later, especially if she really gives me trouble. Then I unbutton my shirt. Unbuckle my belt. Unzip my pants. I remove my clothing one article at a time, my eyes locked on hers. She watches my every move, her mouth falling open, her breath coming faster, her eyes going wide.
I leave my boxer briefs for last, and when I finally take them off, she stares at my massive erection and licks her lips.
“Does that answer your question about how hard I am for you?”
“Yes.” She moves to the edge of the couch and runs her hands up the front of my thighs. Looks up at me. “And it’s a very good answer.”
“I’m a bit of an overachiever.”
She smiles, her mouth tantalizingly close to my cock. “I can tell.”
I’m about done with standing still, but then she wraps both hands around my shaft and rubs the crown over her gorgeous full lips. My legs nearly give out. “Fuck,” I whisper, watching her tongue swirl across the tip.
My hands curl into fists as she licks me from bottom to top once, twice, three times, going slower with each stroke and moaning softly. I’m fighting the urge to put my fingers in her hair, hold her head steady, and fuck her mouth—I’m fighting it so hard, I clench my jaw painfully tight.
And then she takes me between her lips, sliding her hot little mouth down my hard length, and I groan in agony. The agony intensifies when she slips one hand between my legs and caresses me playfully. I stop battling the devil on my shoulder and fist one hand in the back of her hair as she moves her head up and down in a lazy, luxurious rhythm, a little deeper every time. When she finally takes me to the back of her throat, I can’t even breathe. I don’t know what the fuck she’s even doing with her tongue, but it feels like the most magnificent moment of my life. My entire body is on fire, and I’m dangerously close to orgasm.
But I don’t want her to stop. It’s a side of Willow I’ve never seen—unabashed, smoking hot, totally confident. Yet she’s vulnerable like this too. I’m standing over her with her head in my hands and my dick in her mouth. It gives me a sense of power, of being in command, and it shows how much she trusts me.
When I know I won’t be able to hold back if she keeps going, I pull back. “You need to stop.”
“Why?” she asks, panting a little. “Don’t you like it?”
“I like it too much, and I don’t want this to be over so soon.”
“But we have all night.” With a troublemaking gleam in her eye, she takes me back into her mouth again, and she doesn’t stop until my legs go numb and my knees threaten to buckle and I’m cursing and growling and coming so hard in her mouth I don’t know how she’s not choking on it.
Finally, she collapses back onto the couch, breathing hard and wiping her lower lip with the back of one hand. Her expression is one of triumph. “Ha,” she says. “I got what I wanted.”
“You are a very bad girl, Willow Hayes. And I think you need to be punished.” I lean over and reach for my tie.
She glances at it in my hands. “What are you going to do with that?”
“I’m going to tie you up.”
She starts to giggle. Our eyes lock, and I can tell she thinks I’m joking. But then I get her by the wrist, and her laughter fades.
“Reid, you’re not serious.”
I smile villainously. “Try me.”
Shrieking loudly, she jumps off the couch and slips past me, making me chase her around the apartment, which only adds to the game. I end up catching her in the kitchen, throwing her over my shoulder like a caveman, and carrying her into the bedroom. She squeals and pounds on my back the whole time. “Reid, stop!”
No fucking way.
I toss her on the bed, strip her naked, bind her wrists over her head, and tie them to her wrought iron headboard.
“What are you going to do to me?” she asks, and I can hear the slight tremor in her voice.
“Everything,” I tell her. “I’m going to start with my hands, like you did. I’m going to touch you in all the right places until you’re soaking wet.”
“Oh, God,” she whispers.
“And then I’m going to use my mouth, like you did. I’m going to torture you with my tongue and my fingers until you’re desperate to come. I want to hear you beg for it.”
She whimpers, a soft, breathy little sound that makes me smile in the dark.
“And then,” I continue, whispering low in her ear, “after I make you come like that, you’re going to beg for my cock inside you. And if you’re a very good girl, and you say everything I want to hear, do all the things I want you to do, I’ll give you what you want.”
She arches and strains beneath me. “Reid, kiss me.”
“I will, sweetheart. But first … tell me what a bad girl you are.” I am fucking loving this—it’s going to take me a little while to recover anyway, so I might as well fill the time with something fun, right?
“I’m … I’m a bad girl,” she whispers.
“That’s right.” I press my lips to hers, stroking her tongue with mine. “A very bad girl.”
The entire night is perfection.
Willow does everything I ask, and hearing those dirty words in her sweet little voice is unreal—it has me hard again in no time. But I do things exactly the way I planned, bringing her close to the edge with my fingers and taking her over with my mouth. She writhes and struggles against the tightly knotted tie, and her frustration at being unable to use her hands is hotter than fuck. It makes her use her body in ways I’ve never imagined—moving in ways that show me what she likes, how she wants it, when to go hard and when to ease up.
In the end, I free her wrists from the headboard so I can have the satisfaction of feeling her clutch and claw at me, pull me in deeper, fist her hands in my hair. I love that she wants me this way. I love the way her skin feels against mine. I love sliding into her tight, hot body and burying myself deep within her. It’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before, because it’s Willow’s skin, Willow’s body, Willow’s voice repeating my name until we’re lost to it, exploding together in perfect harmony.
“I love you,” someone says as we’re catching our breath.
Holy shit. I think it was me.
There’s a pause.
“What?” Willow whispers.
I say it again. “I love you.” It’s not like I haven’t said the words to her before, but this feels different.
“I love you too.” She says it kind of like we always say it, lightly. Affectionately.
“No. I mean I’m in love with you.” I lift my chest off hers and look down at her face, wishing I could see her expression better in the dark.
“Reid … are you serious?”
“Yes. I don’t think I’ve ever said those words to anyone before, but I feel it—I’m madly in love with you.”
And then, of course, she starts to cry.
“Um, that’s not really the reaction I was hoping for,” I tell her.
/>
“I’m sorry,” she says, sniffling, “but it’s just really emotional for me to hear you say that.”
“Because you finally made a perfect match?”
“No!” She slaps my chest. “Because I’m in love with you too, you jerk! I think I’ve always been in love with you. I just didn’t know what to do about it.”
“Same. I think I kept telling myself it was impossible, that you didn’t want me that way, so it would never work.”
“I did want you that way. This way.” Her arms and legs tightened around me. “But I was scared.”
“I know.” I kiss her forehead. “Relationships are scary. But lucky for us, we know each other really well. There won’t be too many surprises.”
“Well, it kind of surprised me when you tied me up.” She giggled. “Although, I have to admit I liked it. It made me think there are still things about you to learn.”
“Good.”
“So can I tie you up sometime? Give you a spanking?”
“Fuck no. I will do the tying up and spanking in this relationship.”
She sighs dramatically. “Fine. I guess I’ll just have to think up other ways to be naughty.”
“That is a fucking deal.”
God, I love my life.
Sixteen
Willow
I wake up in Reid’s arms, the warmth of his body behind me, the masculine scent of his cologne on my sheets. Smiling, I breathe it in without even opening my eyes.
For the first time in so long, I feel completely happy.
I took a risk, and it paid off. Do we have all the answers? Nope. But we’ll find our way together. And I trust Reid to keep my heart safe.
He stirs behind me, and I feel a little tap-tap-tap on my ass. It makes me snicker, and even though I try to smother it, he hears.
“Are you laughing at my erection?” he asks, his voice gravelly.
“I would never,” I say, putting a hand over my mouth.
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