Then we’re leaning into each other across the tiny table, our knees touching, our lips pressing together. My eyes flutter closed as Collin’s hand finds my inner thigh, the other finding the nape of my neck, pulling me in closer. Sweetly. Hungrily.

Aroused.

Our mouths part and our tongues touch, exploring deliberately. An unhurried pleasure that sends a shockwave of desire between my legs and surging through my body.

This isn’t just a kiss; this is an unspoken invitation for something more. More meaningful. Full of surrender.

I will worship you, the kiss whispers.

I will be good to you, the kiss promises.

It doesn’t last long. Collin pulls away first, resting his forehead against mine, stroking the underside of my jaw with his thumb.

He’s breathing hard.

I’m breathing hard.

“Tabitha.” His voice is a low, gravelly plead. “Tabitha, come home with me.”

I will worship you…

I will be good to you…

I know I shouldn’t. I know it’s too soon to be intimate. But I know if I don’t…

I’ll regret it.

I give a barely perceivable nod. “Yes.”

Yes.

B lare Wellborn did not sleep around. Didn’t do one-night stands. Didn’t sleep with men on the first date. But as she looked across the table at him, the only sensible thought running through her mind was… nothing. There were no sensible thoughts, only need and want and desperation. For him. For Collin Adam.

He slid his hand across her knee. “Blare, come home with me.” All she could do was nod, the words lost in her throat. When he got her home she would see to it that he worshipped the column of the smooth skin there—her favorite spot to be kissed.

“You want me to come home with you? I want to, but… I barely know you. We’ve only known each other, what—three weeks?”

He leans in and presses a kiss to her chin. “Blare Wellborn, I am enchanted by you.” With those seven words, all her fears melted away…

Greyson:What’s going on? Hello! I haven’t heard from you in days…

Tabitha: Sorry! I’m sorry. Work has been so busy.

Greyson: Busy? I hate when people say that. Busy is just an excuse.

Tabitha:You’re right—I haven’t been THAT busy, but I do have a confession to make.

Greyson : A confession?! I like the sound of that!

Tabitha: The truth is, I’ve been spending some time with your, um.

Greyson : My, um… what?

Tabitha : I’ve been spending time with Collin. Your brother.

Greyson: WHAT? Since when? What kind of time?! How! What? LOL. I mean—WOW! In a good way!!!!!!!

Tabitha: Phew. I was kind of worried.

Greyson: Are you kidding me? You’re amazing. He’s awesome (most of the time)! My second and third favorite people. Cal is obviously my FIRST favorite… dating! Love it.

Tabitha: Not dating, just thinking about it?

Greyson:So where are you right now? What are you doing tonight?

Tabitha:We just went to dinner and now we’re… uh… heading to his condo?

Greyson: RIGHT NOW???? This very second??? Is he there with you?

Tabitha:Yes? Is that bad? I’m so nervous my hands are shaking.

Greyson : Tabitha Elizabeth Thompson, you’d better be “dating” if you’re HEADED TO HIS CONDO at eleven o’clock on a Saturday night!!!! Do I need to Mom lecture you about “safety”? cough cough

Tabitha:Oh god, please don’t.

Greyson: I’m not ready for nieces and nephews yet, just so you know. Even if he is 26. Nevermind—I’ll take a niece…

Tabitha: NO. Just no!

Greyson: Alright, I’ll stop, but only on one condition: you tell me everything later. Well, not EVERYTHING…

Tabitha: It’s a deal. <3 you

Greyson : <3

We don’t go through the pretense of wanting after-dinner drinks when we arrive at my condo, don’t make small talk in my living room, don’t loiter in the kitchen.

I bypass a tour entirely, assuming she took one during my housewarming party, and lead her by the hand up the stairs to the master bedroom. I give it a squeeze when I push open the double doors, and she steps over the threshold first, walking to the bed, sitting, and crossing her legs.

Flushed, she rests back, bracing herself up by the elbows on my soft mattress, and I stroll in after her, flipping on a newly acquired table lamp from Target. I give my shirt collar a tug, loosening the top button and leisurely sliding it through the hole. One. Two. Two buttons undone.

Those hypnotic blue eyes never leave my face.

Three buttons.

The pads of Tabitha’s fingertips lightly caress my white duvet cover, stroking it softly. “Are these the crisp, clean sheets that Greyson said would be nice to roll around on that day I found you shopping?”

“Hell yeah.” A chuckle escapes my throat.

She swallows and licks those juicy lips. “Good choice.”

My fingers pull a fourth button unfastened. Five. “You impressed? I got me a new wine bottle opener, too.”

“Oh, fancy.” Her voice is throaty and breathless.

“You like the sheets, Tabitha?”

“Oh yeah.”

Six.

“You should see yourself. Hair all over, skin all hot. I couldn’t be more turned on. You’re so fucking sexy.”

Her hooded eyes leave my face to rake me up and down, searing, as I pluck button number seven free. “So are you.”

“You know what would make us even sexier?”

Eight.

“What?” she says in the barest hint of a whisper.

Her legs part voluntarily when I kneel… go down on bended knee… unbuckle the thin straps on her high-heeled shoes, each one the same color as her flesh and sexy as shit. I remove them both and kiss the top of her foot before tossing both heels off to the side. They hit the closet door with a loud thud. I ignore them, running my palms up her silky thighs, letting them roam up and under the skirt of her dress, parting the seam in the process.

I watch, transfixed, as Tabitha’s eyes flutter shut, losing herself in the feel of my hands gliding across her skin.

Still on my knees, I inch forward to settle myself between her legs and wrap my arms around her waist. I trail kisses along her collarbone, the glowing skin where her shoulder and neck meet.

Tabitha tips her head back to give my greedy-as-fuck lips access, her long blonde hair falling to the comforter, cascading like a waterfall. Stunning. I take a few strands, rubbing them between two fingers, then lift them to my nose.

“Your hair smells amazing.” I drop the locks and my lips speak into the hollow of her neck. “You smell like I want to do this.”

This is my tongue trailing the length of her collarbone.

Tabitha moans, stiffening slightly.

“What are we doing, Collin? What are we doing,” she pants. “This isn’t me. I don’t d-do one-night stands.” She releases another moan when my tongue licks the hollow between her breasts. “I’m a… mmm... relationship kind of girl.”