Chapter 7: Always Red: Chapter 8

“Want to get breakfast?” I asked, opening the car door for her.

We stood facing each other. She was still wearing my jacket and wrapped in the blanket. She was so close that all I had to do was place my arm around her waist and pull her to me.

The wind blew her long, dark hair, the thick, shiny strands covering her beautiful face. Holding my breath, I gently tucked them behind her ear and stroked her cheek with the back of my hand. She closed her eyes, her body swaying closer to mine.

I want to eat you for breakfast, I wanted to say. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

I wisely kept my lips zipped. We had just gotten back together, and I didn’t want to scare her.

When she opened her eyes and stared into mine, my strong desire for her knotted my stomach.

“What time is it?” she asked. But she whispered it, as if she felt the same way I did. Or maybe I was just desperate enough to imagine it.

Taking a deep, calming breath, I glanced at my watch. “It’s time for Red to have breakfast with Caleb.”

She bit her lip to stop herself from smiling. She failed miserably, and her lips split into a sweet smile. Her lips had been seductively stained with red lipstick last night, but they were bare now—and they looked more kissable than ever. How was that even possible?

“I have class today, a review for finals that I can’t skip.”

There was regret in her voice, and that made me happy. I knew she wanted to spend more time with me.

We’d been apart for over a week, but it felt like years.

She shivered when the wind picked up again.

“Get inside,” I said, remembering my manners.

I closed the car door after her, then jogged around the car and scrambled inside.

“What time is your class?” I turned the heater on full blast.

She slid off my jacket and handed it to me. “Here. You wear this. It’s cold.” Then she pulled the blanket tighter around her body, rubbing and blowing on her hands for heat. “I don’t start till ten.”

I threw my jacket on the backseat. “We have time. Come here, Red.”

The blanket fell from her shoulders as I pulled her close to me. I nuzzled her neck, blowing warm breath on her skin as I rubbed her back and shoulders.

“Better?”

“Don’t stop yet,” she murmured, bending her neck slightly to grant me more access.

“Are you still cold?” I murmured back, planting a soft kiss on her shoulder.

“Yes.”

“Let me warm you up.”

I moved my seat back. She gasped as I reached for her waist and lifted her, planting her on top of me so she straddled me, her legs on either side of my thighs.

Her eyes were wide with surprise—and something else.

Desire.

Her eyes were darkened, her pupils dilated. I stroked her shoulder with the back of my hand, light, teasing touches that fed the fire in her eyes.

“You’re so beautiful.”

I traced the shape of her lips with my finger. They parted, her warm breath fanning out, her eyes half closed.

“I want to bite you,” I said. My voice sounded rough.

Her eyes opened, hooded with the same hunger I felt.

“I can’t”—I kissed the side of her mouth, deliberately missing her lips—“get enough”—I kissed the other side, and she closed her eyes, shivering—“of you.”

“Caleb.”

When she pressed her body against mine, lifting her lips like an offering, I snapped.

I buried my hands in her hair, crushing my mouth against hers. Hungry and wild, I devoured, taking everything she gave. I took more and more, until the sound of her moan filled my ears, making me burn.

I was too hungry for her, too starved for her taste, her touch, her smell to think about being gentle.

I needed her. Desperately.

All I could think was more.

She consumed me. Every thought, every feeling, every breath of my being belonged to her.

Her arms wrapped around my shoulders, her nails digging into my back. Her legs tightened around my hips as my mouth dragged along her neck, along the perfect skin above her breasts.

“Caleb.”

My heart was thundering in my ears as she leaned back against the wheel. She closed her eyes as my hands worshipped her. I wanted to rip her clothes off.

She dragged my mouth back to hers again, reckless, wild, and hot. My hands ran up her exposed legs, squeezing, stroking, claiming. I wanted to touch her where I hadn’t dared touch her before, but not here. Not here.

When she licked my neck, my eyes nearly crossed. We had to stop or…I would take her here. And that wasn’t how I planned our first time.

I cupped the back of her head, touched my forehead to hers as our breathing slowed. Her eyes were closed, her shoulders rising in time with her chest.

Her chest…her…

Do not think about it. Do not even look.

“Pancakes?”

She opened her eyes, and I nearly groaned. She was still turned on; I could see the need burning in her eyes. She swallowed, nodding after a moment.

She smiled. “Pancakes.”