Dear Heart, I Hate You

“The best kind,” I teased. “They’re a really sweet couple, though.”

“Yeah, they are. So annoyingly in love, but we all have our faults.”

As he chuckled, I stared at those lips. Realizing how much I’d miss them, I pulled out my cell phone and took a picture of him while he drove. God, he’s handsome.

“Did you just take a picture of me?” He glanced at me before refocusing on the road.

“Yes. It’s hot as shit too, so don’t ask me to delete it, because I won’t.”

“I think you might be using me for my lips.” He puckered, and when I moaned out loud, his hand gripped my leg tighter. “Don’t make sounds like that if you expect me to keep driving, Jules.”

“Sorry, but you can’t just go around puckering those things whenever you feel like it. They’re lethal.”

He grinned as he slowed the car to a stop. Surprised, I looked out the passenger window and saw with disappointment that we were in front of the hotel already. Since Cal had already checked out this morning, he had no reason to come inside.

“You don’t have to come in, okay? I promise I won’t think any less of you,” I said, glancing at the clock on his dashboard.

Not to mention how tired I was from my lack of sleep. If Cal walked me inside, I’d most likely ask him to come to my room and we’d have a repeat performance of last night. But this time, I probably wouldn’t be able to tell him no. Then I’d be really screwed. Pun intended. No, I needed Cal to stay put in his car.

Unless this is the last time I’m seeing him before I leave . . .

That thought sent panic through me. I hadn’t mentally prepared for tonight to be it for us. I’d assumed I’d at least see him again tomorrow, but what if he was busy or had plans?

“Are you sure?” He frowned at me. “I don’t like not walking you inside, Jules.”

“I know you don’t, but I’m a big girl.”

Cal sucked in a long breath. “What time is your flight tomorrow?”

A sliver of relief shot through me. “Six fifteen.”

Concentrating on our joined hands, he said, “I won’t walk you in on one condition.”

“And what might that be?”

He looked up. “I get to drive you to the airport.”

My heart stuttered a little at his words. “I’d like that a lot.”

“Good.”

He leaned across the console and cupped my cheek before pulling me in for a kiss. Our lips parted and we tasted each other, the thrill of it making my thighs clench together. Cal’s kisses set my entire body on fire.

“God, I love kissing you,” he said against my mouth before he traced my bottom lip with the tip of his tongue.

“I was just thinking the same thing,” I breathed into his mouth, then tugged at his bottom lip with my teeth. Biting lightly, I let it go as he ravaged me with his mouth,

our kisses desperate. It seemed even our mouths knew our time together was short.

When we finally pulled apart, my lips tingled with the absence of his touch. Reaching in the backseat for my rose, I grabbed it before leaning in to give him one last kiss good night.

“I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” he said.

“Okay.”

I felt like a giddy schoolgirl again as I opened the car door and stepped out into the bitter cold, my body still warm from his kisses and his sweatshirt. When I realized I was still wearing it, I almost turned around to give it back to him, but decided I’d sleep in it instead. If I wasn’t going to really be sleeping with Cal, the scent of him would have to do.

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