Where We Belong (Carolina Rebels 6)

The best thing about Julie? She accepts this answer. She doesn’t press for more. She doesn’t complain or ask why. She doesn’t try to change this fact. She simply accepts what’s true and leaves it be. Now, she does say something, but I like what she says.

“If you need space or quiet or if I end up talking too much, tell me. I’d rather you tell me what you need than you be miserable or something.”

“You’re fine, Jules.” She rests against me and I add, “For now,” causing her to laugh.

I get up to feed Marmalade who whines like a baby when it’s time for him to be fed. I often wonder who he whined to before he lived with me. If he lived on the street, did he still meow incessantly until he found food? When I return to the living room, Julie sits with her legs criss-crossed in front of her and a contemplating expression on her face.

“Do you think it’ll feel odd to go on our date?” she asks as I sit next to her.

“Odd? No,” I reply immediately. “Awkward at times, possibly. But we’ve gone out and done stuff together before. Only difference this time is we’re calling it a date, I’ll hold your hand, and there will be at least one kiss.”

She reaches over to hold my hand in hers, resting them on her thigh, and smiles. “At least one?”

“Definitely.”

“What if I want one now?”

I don’t even get the chance to lean toward her before my phone rings. One look shows it’s a call from Cal. For a second, I debate not answering. But if I don’t, he’ll only knock on my door and bother me that way.

“Hey,” I answer.

“I can’t remember. Are you taking me to the airport in the morning or am I using one of those car services?” he asks. Cal is one of those going on vacation.

“What time do you have to be at the airport?”

“Four thirty.”

“I’m not getting up that early.”

Cal laughs. “Fair enough. Are you sure you don’t want to come with me? Or maybe go down and see Mom and Dad?”

“Right here is exactly where I want to be. You enjoy your trip. Maybe I’ll pick you up when you get back,” I tell him.

We talk for another minute or two and then hang up. I set my phone on the end table before facing Julie. Her eyes are back on the movie. That just won’t do.

“Jules,” I quietly say. She turns her head to look at me. Grasping her chin with two fingers, I lean over and kiss her like I’ve always dreamed of doing, but never have until now.

A great kiss is something I’ve experienced before, but this touching of lips and tongues with Collin? Kiss is much too small of a word to describe it, and the pleasure coursing through my veins is like nothing I’ve ever felt. Collin and I? We were meant to be. That’s the only explanation I have. Things were certainly never this…this… A moan pours from my throat as he forces me to lie back on the couch. Yeah, it was never like this with Cal. Or anyone else I’ve ever been with.

My fingers dig into the back of his neck as I hold onto him. Collin props himself up with one hand while killing me slowly. He grazes his fingertips over my collarbone, right above my sternum, and left to right, back and forth, just below my breasts so his knuckles brush across the undersides of my breasts. And I can feel every touch because I’m wearing only a thin sports bra.

Just when I suck in a breath from the feel of his hand, he kisses me harder. I’ll gladly suffocate if it means kissing Collin until I pass out from lack of oxygen; it’d totally be worth it. A whiny sigh embarrasses me when Collin abandons my mouth for my neck.

“Jules?” he murmurs against my skin.

“Don’t tell me you want to

stop.”

He lifts his head with the smile I’m most familiar with. “I don’t want to rush this.”

I nearly scoff, but refrain. In a way, it doesn’t feel like rushing when I’ve been waiting so long for this moment. Collin has never led me astray, though. If it almost feels like we’re rushing, then we should slow down.

His smile falters. “I need you to say something.”

“You’re also the smartest Kessy I know and I trust you.” I lean up to kiss his cheek. A quick glance at the TV shows the credits rolling for our latest movie. “Let’s watch one more movie and then go to bed.”

Collin nods, sits up, and pulls me upright with him. Under his own accord, he puts his arm around me, making me smile. Marmalade jumps off of the chair and hops onto Collin’s lap. He stares at Collin for all of three seconds before Collin huffs and pets him. I still don’t think he actually dislikes the cat. And Marmalade obviously loves him.