“I was always going to.” I smile, resting my head against the seat.
“Oh, I know.”
“Cocky.” I laugh.
“Nah. I’m just irresistible.”
That he is.
“Are you going to let me pay you for this drawing?”
He’s referring to the sketch I did of the view from Point Dume.
“No, because that would be beyond weird—you giving me money while we’re out on a date.”
“Good point.” He chuckles. “Well, thank you for the drawing. It’ll look great next to my other one.”
I get my bag from the car floor, my rose in my hand. I’ve hardly put it down all night. “I should get inside.” I reach for the door handle.
“I’ll walk you to your apartment.”
I almost sigh a breath of relief because my time with him isn’t quite over yet.
We climb out of his car at the same time, and he meets me at my side.
We start the walk to my apartment, side by side, and I feel his hand brush against mine. Then, his little finger hooks onto mine until he has worked his fingers into mine, and he’s holding my hand.
The sizzling sensation from his touch on my skin is indescribable.
My heart is going nuts, and my breathing is out of control.
“Well, this is me,” I say as we reach my front door.
Reluctantly I let go of his hand. I get my key out of my bag and turn to face him.
He’s a lot closer than I expected. We’re literally standing an inch apart.
I can feel the heat of his body, and he smells so good, like the ocean and something so uniquely him.
I look up into his face. He’s already staring down at me. And the way he’s looking at me…it’s like need and desire and a whole other bunch of stuff I can’t even begin to explain. It makes my toes curl, and my own need unfurls inside of me.
His hand comes to my face. His thumb brushes over my skin and grazes the edge of my lips, making me shiver.
I have never felt anything like this before, the way I feel with him right now.
I’m pretty sure he’s going to kiss me. God, I hope so.
“You said if I wanted to see you again, I should ask you at the end of our date.” His voice is rough and deep in the silence. “It’s the end of our date, so I’m asking. Spend the day with me tomorrow. Go surfing with me.”
“Yes.”
A smile lifts the corner of his lips. “Yes?”
“Yes.” I grin.
His eyes flicker down to my mouth. Something hot and dark enters his gaze, making my mouth go dry.
I swallow. Then, I lick my lips.
His eyes flare and lift to mine. Desire is burning wildly in his eyes, in the heated silence.
Need shoots down the length of my spine.
I have never wanted a guy to kiss me as much as I want Adam to.
“I’m going to kiss you now,” he whispers.
Thank God.
All I can do is nod. I’m struggling to breathe, so speaking isn’t even an option.
He lowers his head to mine, and then his mouth is on mine…and—
Oh my God.
It’s not that I’ve kissed a lot of guys because I haven’t, but the feel of Adam’s lips on mine…is perfection.
He tastes like pizza and mints. It’s a weird combination when you think about it, but it works on him. But then again, anything works on him.
His other hand comes up, holding the nape of my neck his fingers push up into my hair.
I can’t think or breathe. I can only feel his mouth on mine, and I never want it to end.
I part my lips on a sound of need, my hands sliding up his chest. His tongue gently sweeps over mine. Then, he sucks on my lower lip, and he’s pulling back, far too quickly for my liking.
“Tomorrow,” he says, sounding way too composed.
Our faces are only millimeters apart, his eyes staring into mine.
I’m so not composed. My breaths are coming out in quick short pants. I’m a mess of emotions, and hormones.
I really want to kiss him again.
“Mmhmm.”
He chuckles softly. Then, removing his hands from me, he steps away.
My body cries out in distress for him to come back.
“I’ll pick you up at seven a.m., so we can get there early and catch some good waves.”
“Mmhmm.”
“Evie?”
“Yeah?” I’m still gazing at him—well, gazing at his mouth to be exact. He has really nice lips.
“What time am I picking you up?”
I come to a little, focusing on his eyes. Realizing that I’m behaving like a total girl, my face heats. I clear my throat, gathering my wits. “Seven.”
He smiles at me, and I feel it deep inside.
“I’ll see you then.”
I watch as he turns and leaves down the steps.
I fall back against my door, touching my fingers to my lips, the feel and taste of him still there. The kiss was short, but I feel like he’s been touching me for hours.
My legs are like jelly while my heart threatens to burst out of my ribcage.
I stay there until I hear his car pulling away, awakening me to move.
I unlock the front door and let myself in.
My dad is in the living room. He never goes to bed until I’m home, not that I’m ever usually out late. I’d text him earlier while I was waiting for Adam to come back with the pizza, to let him know I was out with a friend.
“You have a good time?”
“Yeah. I did.” I can’t contain my giddy smile.
Dad gives me a curious look, so I tell him a quick goodnight, and I head to my bedroom, looking in on Casey as I pass her room. She’s fast asleep.
I drop down onto my bed, pressing the rose to my nose again.
I feel giddy with excitement.
I place the rose on my bedside table, and then I set my alarm for six in the morning. So much for my sleep in. I’m getting up even earlier than I normally do for work.
But ask me if I care.
Not at all because I’ll be spending the day with Adam.
Oh God, am I in trouble. After having this time with him today, I’m feeling all kinds of crazy about him. So, what will I be like after a full day with him tomorrow?
I’ll be done for, that’s what I’ll be.
So, freaking done for.
Entering the water, I paddle out on my board, pushing through the waves. Paddling out farther, I need big waves.
I need to surf Evie out of my head.
I need the peace that only being out here can give me.
It’s been five days since our talk. I haven’t spoken to her since. I have caught glimpses of her on my way back in and out of the hotel as I pass by the coffee shop, but I’ve avoided going in there.
I’ve had to go to Starbucks. So, now, I’ve lost my decent fucking coffee as well.
I’ve been staying away from her for many reasons, and it’s not just the fact that she broke my heart. Seeing her again has screwed me up so much.
I knew I wasn’t over her—I’d have to be stupid to ever think I was—but I didn’t realize how badly I’d want her again. The urge to touch her and taste her was overwhelming. Just breathing the same air as her was fucking killing me.
Standing there, staring at her, I was eighteen all over again.
From the moment I’d seen Evie sitting up on that rock eleven years ago, I’d been obsessed.
I lusted her, then loved her, and then hated her. I’ve mentally chased her for the last ten years, never giving her up.
My obsession has always been there.
I never could get enough of Evie. And no matter what she’s done to me, whether I love her or hate her, I will always want her.
I fucking hate that.
I hate that she’s my weakness. She controls my life, and she’s not even a part of it.
Seeing her after all that time…it felt like it should have been more explosive, bigger somehow, epic—not just me yelling at her in a hotel room.