I reach for her, hauling her across my body, the surprise making her green eyes flash to mine. “You didn’t do anything wrong, Chloe. Not then, not now. He didn’t take anything from us,” I tell her. “Nothing changes except it’s a reminder how hard I’m willing to work to ensure you’re never scared or hurt again.”
She shakes her head. “It’s not your debt to pay.”
I smooth a strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s not a debt. Even if the fucker hadn’t done what he did, I’d still want that for you because you’re important to me and because I literally can’t seem to breathe when you’re hurt or there’s even a chance of you getting hurt. You carved out a space in my heart, and you did it without me even realizing.” I bring her hand to my chest, allowing her to feel the erratic beat of my heart. “That’s you,” I tell her. “That’s all you.”
Her smile damn near blinds me, and then she’s kissing me, sweetly, gently. I savor the feel of her, the taste of her, the scent of her, allowing each detail of her to consume me completely.
Chloe
I wake up to discover Tyler’s still asleep.
It’s only the second time I’ve been awake before him.
I take advantage of the moment, staring at the hard planes of his cheeks and jaw, the roundness of his lips, the straight line of his nose. His hair is sexy and mussed and perfect, and his bare shoulders are broad, stacked with muscles that I’ve traced my lips and fingers across, and yet, I feel starved to explore every part of him again.
The shower taunts me, having gone untouched since our arrival. I make a silent pact with myself to make sure we spend some time in there before leaving.
I slip out from the covers and make my way to the living room in hopes of finding Cooper. We need to talk and resolve this stupid Ricky situation. Throughout our years of friendship, Cooper and I have only fought a handful of times, and never have I been on the receiving end of the look he shot me last night: disappointment and rage along with a heavy dose of betrayal.
The living room is empty except for a note from Nessie that tells me they’ll meet us at the meteor shower tonight.
I debate whether to text or call Cooper and if doing either would be pushing the boundaries considering he’s out with Nessie, who might feel obligated to choose sides or if doing so would ruin his mood and thus their day.
“Rule one, you’re not allowed to get out of bed without kissing me.” Tyler saunters into the living room, dragging a hand down his still bare chest, allowing me to see every hard muscle. His sweatpants ride low on his hips, and his hair is still sexy and mussed.
“You were sleeping,” I tell him as his hands hook around my waist. “I might have kissed you, and you didn’t even realize it.”
He shakes his head. “I’d know because I’d have felt your lips,” he raises one hand to cup my chin, slowly running the pad of his thumb across my bottom lip, “and you have the sexiest, softest, most erotic lips.”
I lick the tip of his thumb, then close my teeth around him, sucking him between my lips.
Ty tips his head back, pulling in a long, slow breath. It’s his tell that he’s turned on, and it fuels me with so much confidence and desire that I forget about all the ways I’ve struggled to forget about Ricky’s words, realizing his assessment was never a reflection of me or my worth, but rather of himself.
Tyler’s skin is still hot from being under the covers as I trace over his abs and continue sucking on his thumb. Fire burns in his blue eyes as he releases a harsh breath. “Are they still asleep?” He tilts his head in the direction of the bedrooms, keeping his focus on me.
I lick his thumb a final time before freeing it. “They’re gone.”
His eyes dilate, the thin veil of hesitation now ash as he claims my mouth, his tongue and lips forceful and demanding as his hands skirt beneath my shirt, gripping my waist. It takes my full attention to meet the challenge his mouth offers, but when his hands don’t continue to explore my body, I nip at his bottom lip and move them to cover my breast.
“I like when you’re bossy,” he says with a grin, his thumb grazing over my hardened nipple. His lips come down on my throat, kissing and sucking at the sensitive skin as his hands skate along the sides of my breasts. I turn my neck, wanting to feel his lips everywhere as he rolls my nipples between his fingers, his tongue tasting my skin.
I place my hand over his erection and smile when he groans against my neck, encouraging me to trace over his length.
Tyler reaches for my sweatshirt and pulls both it and my tee clean off, his hungry gaze on my chest. Then he slides his hands gently into the waistband of my shorts and underwear, kissing me from my collarbone down to my breasts as he slowly begins to lower my shorts. He closes his lips over my nipple, gently biting into my flesh, making arousal pool between my legs. His fingertips skim over my chest, my abdomen, the few inches of my exposed backside where my shorts are still on, just lowered. He moves to my other nipple, flicking his tongue across the surface and making me moan as I bury my hands in his hair, trying to pull him closer, but instead,
