Power Play (Nashville Assassins Next Generation 2)

He’s so adorable.

Without looking at me, he asks, “So, you don’t think we should tell them?”

I get off the cart and walk up beside him, leaning into his side. “I don’t. Do you?”

He shrugs, putting the cookie jar in my cart. “You need this,” he informs me, and I grin. “I hate hiding the fact that I’m with you. I want to kiss you all the time, and it’s getting mighty annoying not being able to.”

He wraps his arm around my waist, and I look up at him. “It’s just not a good time. Shelli getting married, me moving out. My dad needs a minute. Plus, I don’t want the attention or the questioning. I just want you.”

He kisses the tip of my nose, and his lips linger, his eyes staring into mine before he whispers, “You got me.”

“Oh, I know,” I tease, rubbing my nose against his. His eyes darken, and then he takes my mouth with his. I wrap my arms around his waist as he envelops me in his embrace. Our kiss is slow, deep, and utterly perfect. When we part, our eyes meet and I smile. “I like our shopping date.”

“I do too,” he says, but I feel like he’s saying more. We don’t break apart. Instead, we move so that I’m in front of him as we push the cart. He kisses my ear. “My mom will be here next week. We’re still good for dinner, right?”

“Yes,” I say, trying to mentally prepare to meet my first boyfriend’s mom. “What do I wear?”

“Nothing.”

I look up at him as he beams down at me, waggling his brows. “Because that’s a great first impression. Hello, Ms. Hoenes, this is my bare puss and huge tits.”

Heat fills his eyes. “Wait, you shaved?”

Then his hand is in my pants as I giggle loudly, trying to get away. “Boon!”

“Stay still, you!”

I get away, but then he’s chasing me down the aisle. I’m laughing like a child, and the look in his eyes is so possessive it makes me giddy. I head back down the aisle where we left our cart, but somehow, he grabs me, picking me up in his arms and then turning me like I’m a rag doll. I wrap my arms around his neck, and he holds me close. “You’re really not gonna let me get a feel?”

I shake my head. “Not in the middle of Target.”

He glares. “In the car?”

“Totally. Only if you load up all my stuff.” I bat my lashes at him, and he grins at me.

“Done.”

I lean down, capturing his mouth, and he squeezes his arms around me. I get lost in his kiss, so much so that soon, I’m grinning against his lips. When he smiles too, I pull back to admire his beautiful face. I love his eyes. I love the way he smiles and how his lips move when he talks. He’s a dream. My heart races as I stare into his eyes. I know we’re standing in the middle of the aisle, me in his arms with my legs around his waist, but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I sure as shit don’t care who is staring, because I’m only looking at him.

“Tell me something,” he says, walking with me in his arms.

I laugh. “You’re not going to put me down? I’m not a toddler.”

“Nope, you’re my koala,” he challenges as he grabs the cart, sitting me on the handle as he pushes. “But how long is this lease?”

I make a face. “My lease? A year.”

He groans. “So, I’ll need to pay to break this lease to move you in with me, huh?”

I try not to grin. “Boon, come on.”

“No, I’m being serious. This summer, it’s on.”

I get excited. “This summer?”

“Yup, we’re getting a billboard, telling the world we’re together. We’re moving in together, and we may even get a puppy.”

I giggle. “A puppy?”

“Or maybe a cat since our pet needs to be independent with how much we travel.”

“A cat is way smarter.”

“Agree. And then we’ll set up for Christmas the day after Halloween since you love it so much. I’ll even get a little tree to take on road trips with us.”

Lord Almighty. My heart is singing for him, but I eye him playfully. “You planning our future?”

“As long as there is an our future, I’m planning it,” he says, his eyes serious.

I curve my lips as I cup his face. “You’re too good to me, Hoenes.”

He leans into my hand. “Right back atcha, Adler.”

The cart stops as his mouth is on mine once more. I slip my hands around his neck, pulling him in closer with my legs as our tongues slide together. He pulls back, only a breath away, and his lips are still moving with mine. “Just so you don’t fight me when we get to the register, I’m paying for all this.”