Love You Better (Better Love 1)

Fuck, I really hope that’s not how I sounded.

“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” I accuse.

Ivy shakes her head back and forth quickly, biting her lip to keep from laughing more. “No, I didn’t. I swear.”

“You’re lying,” I say, and I stalk slowly toward her.

Ivy’s eyes get wide, and she sits up straight, inching her body farther down the couch, away from me.

“I’m not,” she says again, breathless and fighting a smile.

“Lies,” I say, and with a predatory grin, I lunge for her.

Ivy lets out a stream of shrieking giggles and jumps over the arm of the sofa, just as my knees land on the cushion. She tosses her tie-dye blanket over my head and tries to make a break for the hallway, but I’m faster than she is.

I throw the blanket off and catch up to her just as she’s rounding the corner into my bedroom. With a burst of laughter, she spins and tries to shut the door, but I crouch down and wrap my arms around her waist, hoisting her up so she’s half thrown over my shoulder.

Ivy is writhing with uncontrollable laughter, and I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun.

“Admit it,” I say, walking backward away from the door. “Admit you scared me on purpose.”

“No!”

“Admit it,” I repeat, and I give her side a playful squeeze, causing her to squeal with laughter.

“Never,” she shouts again, so I squeeze her side once more. Her body jerks in response, the sudden movement causing me to fall sideways, landing on my bed with Ivy sprawled on top of me.

It all happens so fast.

At first, Ivy is laughing and I’m laughing, both attempting to out-tickle the other, both refusing to surrender.

And then, somehow, the playfulness vanishes, and it’s replaced with an overwhelming sense of intimacy.

I become aware of our situation milliseconds before she does, because she’s still writhing and giggling when I freeze.

I’m lying on my back on the bed, one hand on Ivy’s upper arm and the other gripping her waist as she lies next to me with her leg hitched up and draped over my body.

Everywhere her skin is touching mine becomes hyper-sensitive, and I try not to focus on the way her thigh is hooked across my hips, precariously close to my now rock-hard dick, or how her chest presses into mine with every inhale, or how her warm breath fans over my neck with every exhale.

I squeeze my eyes shut, attempting to get myself under control, and tighten my grip on Ivy’s waist to stop her wiggling. If she moves even an inch, I won’t be able to hide the effect she’s having on my body.

“Kelley,” she breathes out, and I snap my eyes open to find her gazing down at me, face still alight with laughter but her brows are furrowed, questioning.

We look at each other, and I watch the confusion and laugher fade from her features as something else takes its place. Something less playful. Something more complicated.

“Kelley,” she says again, and I feel her tightening her grip on my shirt. Her pink tongue darts out to wet her plush lower lip, and my breath quickens.

Her pupils are blown wide, and as I drag my fingers up her arm, she closes her eyes and lets out a shuddering breath. I trace my fingertips up her neck, across her jaw, and she leans her face into my palm.

“Ivy,” I whisper, and I hardly recognize my own voice. It’s raw and gravely and full of barely restrained desire.

She opens her eyes slowly, and everything I’m feeling is reflected back to me. I’ve seen that look in her eyes once before. I thought for sure I’d never see it again. But there it is. Want. Lust. Need. For me.

I won’t survive another minute if I’m not kissing this woman.

I tighten my grip on her waist, and slowly, painfully slowly, I begin to bring my lips up to meet hers.

But they never touch.