Love At First Sight (Southern Bride 1)

When she moaned slightly into my mouth, my heart felt like it was going to combust in my chest. I dug my fingers into her hair, pouring everything I had into this one kiss. The kiss I had dreamed about more times than I could count.

Slowly drawing our mouths apart, I leaned my forehead against hers. Our chests rose and fell with heavy breaths. “God, I’ve been dreaming of that kiss for a long time.”

She smiled. “Me, too.”

“Je t’aime, Chloe.” Her eyes lit up and the tears seemed to slow.

“Je t’aime,” she whispered.

I placed my hand on the side of her face, gently running my thumb over her tear-soaked cheeks. “I don’t ever want to make you cry again, Chloe.”

“What if these are happy tears?”

“Happy tears?”

Chloe nodded.

“It hurts my heart to see any tears.”

Her blue eyes locked onto my gaze. I swallowed, trying to settle all the different emotions swimming around inside of me.

She licked her lips, her gaze falling back to my mouth. I wanted more of her, too. So much more. But not like this. Not on a day when we were both emotionally exhausted.

“There’s a dance tomorrow night. Do you want to go with me?” I asked, watching her eyes slowly move back up to my face. Then she smiled, and my breath stalled in my lungs.

“Are you asking me on a date, Rip Myers?”

“I am.”

Chloe’s finger traced my jaw, then outlined my lips as she whispered, “Kiss me again.”

“Is that a yes?”

“That is a forever yes.”

“Chloe,” I whispered before pulling her against me. I pressed my mouth to hers. The kiss was different from a few moments ago. This one was filled with passion. Longing. Our need for more of each other.

Lifting her up into my arms, Chloe wrapped her legs around me. I pressed her back against the wall. Her hands slid to my hair where she gently tugged. Pushing into her with my hard cock, Chloe pulled her mouth from mine to gasp.

“Rip.”

“I’m sorry. I can’t stop myself from wanting you, but this is not where our first time together is going to be, sweetheart.”

She gave me a saucy grin. “The back of your truck?”

Laughing, I kissed the tip of her nose. “As much as I want that, no. Not our first time.”

Chloe tilted her head to study me. “Why are you blushing?”

I let out a small laugh and answered her. “It’s just, I’ve always had an idea of what our first time would be like. Where it would be. The things I would whisper into your ear when I first pushed inside you.”

Her lips parted slightly, then she swallowed hard.

“It wasn’t in an empty house against a wall.”

The corners of her mouth lifted. “Where was it?”

It was my turn to smile. “If I told you, it wouldn’t be as romantic.”

“Romantic?” she said, her cheeks turning a soft pink.

“You deserve that, Chloe. After everything we’ve been through, you deserve that and more.”

Her fingers ran through my hair as she let my words settle. “I’ll be patient, as long as you promise not to make me wait very long.”

I laughed. “Trust me, I won’t.”

Chloe’s teeth dug into her lip, and I felt the strain against my pants. She must have also, because her brows rose.

“We should leave,” she said in a breathless voice.

“Probably.”

I set her down and kissed her gently on the lips once more.

“Rip?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you nervous? About this.” She gestured between the two of us.

“No. Are you?”

The most beautiful smile I’d ever seen appeared on her face. “Not at all. It feels so right.”

“Yes, it does.”

Chloe laced her fingers with mine as we headed toward the front door.

“When do you close on the house again?” she asked as I was locking it.

“Wednesday. Do you think you could be there?”

“Sure. What time and where?”

“Frio River Title Company, three in the afternoon. We can drive together. I’ll be working with your dad that morning.”

My stomach flipped when she reached for my hand again. She had no idea why I wanted her at the closing, and I had no plan to tell her ahead of time. Once we got to my truck, I opened the door and held her hand as she climbed in.

I watched as she took another look at the old white house. I couldn’t help the bubble of happiness growing inside my chest and noticed that that empty feeling was slowly fading away. When I told her I bought the house for her, I meant it. Now she was going to be a part of bringing it—and me—back to life.

And I couldn’t wait to get started.

Rip

I SAT ON the sofa while Steed and Paxton sat across from me. Steed stared at me with an intimidating glare. Paxton, on the other hand, was grinning from ear to ear.

“So, you’re finally dating her,” Steed said.

“Yes, sir.”

He nodded.