Always and Forever

~*~ Excerpt from Always and Forever ~*~

“I don’t want today to end,” Summer says wistfully as I open her door. I spin her around, so her back is against the side of my truck and bring my hands up to frame her head. Slowly I lean forward, watching her eyes flutter closed, then I kiss her, brushing my lips across hers softly.

“If today doesn’t end, then tomorrow can’t begin. And tomorrow could be even better than today.”

“Mmm. Good point,” she mumbles against my lips, her arms winding around my neck. When she pulls me in for a deeper kiss, I go, willingly. This woman can have me anyway, anywhere, anytime she wants. Her kisses are a drug I can’t get enough of and losing myself to them is the greatest high.

We drive home with her in the middle, leaning against me the same as she did earlier. But instead of my arm being stretched out behind her, it’s trapped in her lap, her fingers covering mine, tracing small circles on my skin. We could be living in a country music song right now; this moment is so idyllic.

The sun is setting behind us as we turn off the highway and make our way down the road toward the bakery and Summer’s apartment. I pull up out front and kill the engine but make no move to get out. It feels like the magic spell that has surrounded us all afternoon might break the second I leave this truck.

“What was that about tomorrow?” comes Summer’s quiet teasing.

“I’m going to see you again tomorrow, right?” I say in a low voice.

“I certainly hope so.”

“And I’ll get to kiss you again?” I have to ask. I have to know that what has blossomed between us today isn’t going to disappear now that we’re home, around our friends and family.

I hear her intake of breath before Summer turns to me and pulls my face toward her with one hand. She presses a sweet but firm kiss to my lips, and when she pulls back, there’s fire in her eyes.

“I certainly hope so. In fact, if you don’t kiss me again tomorrow, Ethan Monroe, you’ll be in trouble.”

“What about Mila?” I wince, but I know we have to discuss my sister at some point. “She might be weird about this.”

“We’ll talk to her about it. About us.” Summer’s voice falters. “But maybe not right away? We can keep this between us for now, right?”

Part of me wants to protest, but who knows how Mila will react to me dating her best friend. Maybe it’s better Summer and I figure things out between us first.

“So, there is an us?”

Goddamnit, why am I the vulnerable one today?

“Yes, Ethan. There is most definitely an us.”

“Thank fuck.” I huff out a breath I didn’t know I was holding and finally climb down from the truck, jog around to open her door, and walk her up to her apartment.

When we get to the top of the stairs, I can’t help but kiss her again. “I’ll see you tomorrow, shorty.”

Then, before I give in to temptation, I jog down the stairs and climb into my truck. I drive home on autopilot, my mind firmly focused on Summer.

Kissing her felt like coming home. Like she was the answer to a prayer I didn’t know I had.

And a little bit like jumping off a cliff, not knowing how deep the water runs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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