Feeling like an idiot for forgetting who I was kissing, I suddenly became aware of our surroundings. “Shit. I’m sorry. I didn’t even think about it.” Even though we were in my hometown, I scanned the doors and windows of the bar, looking for prying eyes.

“Why would you? That kind of crazy only happens to me. And to be honest, even I forgot all about it when we were inside.” She leaned up on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss against my nose.

Who the hell does that? Apparently Paige Lockwood does, and I’d be damned if I said I didn’t enjoy it.

“Let’s go home, babe,” I told her, “but you’ve gotta drive.”

While I was nowhere near hammered, I’d been at the bar long enough this evening to know better than to get behind the wheel. Having one or two beers was one thing for my one-minute drive home, but spending hours at the only bar in town was another. I liked to think I knew my limits, although everything was in question since this girl drove into my life.

“I have your mom’s car,” she announced and I threw my head back in surprise. Mama didn’t let just anyone take her car. Hell, she’d never even let me take it, but here she was, letting Paige Lockwood drive it around town.

“We’ll just leave my truck here and I’ll come get it in the morning.” I started to walk toward Mama’s little red sports car as Paige got into the driver’s seat.

Once she pulled onto my dirt road, I started fidgeting. I couldn’t wait to get Paige out of this car and into the barn. Once at the house, she turned off the ignition and we both stepped out of our seats and into the night. I hurried to her side, reaching for her hand, and pulled her toward the back of the house. “Wait, let me put your mom’s car keys in the house first.”

“No way!” I almost yelled, but then recovered. “She’ll know you’re back but you’re not home, if you catch my drift.” I wanted Paige in the barn with me, but I wasn’t sure I wanted Mama to catch on to that fact. She wasn’t stupid or naive, and come tomorrow morning, she’d be asking me a ton of questions that would make me want to rip all my hair out. What was it with females and questions?

“Tatum.” Paige pulled me to a stop and faced me. “Your mom has been pushing me toward you since I got here. I have a feeling she won’t mind.”

“She has not,” I argued halfheartedly, wondering if my mom would really do that.

“Oh yes, she has,” she said before dropping my hand and opening the front door. Paige’s cute ass disappeared into the darkness before immediately reappearing. She was back at my side, pressing her lips against my cheek before I could argue.

We walked in a hurried pace toward the back house. I never locked the door, so I pulled at the screen first and held it open for her. When she walked through the door, I smacked her ass and she screamed.

“That hurt!”

“Good,” I teased, not really meaning it, but liking the sound that came out of her mouth. It had been a long time since I’d been with a woman…in any kind of way.

As I wandered through the entryway, she tried to block me with her petite frame. She threw her arms around my neck and leaped onto me, wrapping her legs around my waist.

“I’ve been waiting forever for you to kiss me,” she said as she planted kisses on my mouth, my cheek, my neck.

“If it’s any consolation, I’ve wanted to kiss you since you hopped into my truck,” I mumbled through my lust-filled haze.

She leaned back slightly, her weight shifting in my arms. “Nope. It’s no consolation at all.”

I tore my eyes away from hers and locked onto her pretty lips. Her tongue darted across the bottom one before she pressed her mouth against mine, her tongue entering without any hesitation. I stroked her tongue with mine, pulling away a little to nip gently at her lips. She fisted my hair as I cupped her ass and her back with my hands. Most of me wanted to throw her down on my bed and bury myself in her, but the other part of me had to fight for self-control.

I pulled away from her kiss and lowered her gently to the floor. “I need a second, babe.” Her chest heaved as she struggled to even out her breathing. We were both filled with want for each other, and I found some comfort in that fact.

“What’s the matter?” she asked as I stepped away from her.

“I’m not…I’m not ready for this. Between us. I just can’t go there yet.” I’d been so attracted to her since the moment I laid eyes on her, and I’d wanted to kiss her for just as long. But my willpower was only so strong and if I didn’t take a few moments, I’d throw her on the couch and lose myself to her before I took another breath.

Her face broke out into a grin. “Well, isn’t this ironic?”

“What’s that?”

“The guy telling the girl we have to slow down. That happens…oh, about, never?” When I laughed, she reached for my face, her hands cupping my cheeks as she pulled me toward her. “We’ll go at your pace,” she said in a mocking tone before planting a quick kiss on my mouth.

“Yeah, we will. You know I’m worth the wait,” I teased back.

Paige moved toward the couch and sat down before patting the cushion next to her. “We don’t have to do anything, Tatum. We can just talk, if you want.”

“I don’t want to talk, Paige. I’ve been dying to kiss you, so I plan on doing just that. And I want to do a lot of it. I just can’t go further than that with you. Not tonight. I hope you’re okay with that.”

It was official. If they gave out man cards when we were born, mine would certainly be revoked right about now.

“Of course I’m okay with that. I almost don’t know what to think, to be honest.” She fluttered her eyelashes and a small smile appeared on her face. “Usually guys are clamoring to get into girls’ pants. Not just mine, but any girl.”

“Trust me. I know. I’m still a guy. And the guy part of me is dying to get in your pants,” I admitted before leaning over her and covering her body with mine.

I held my body over hers, before turning on my side so both of us fit. Pressing my hand against her back, I pulled her chest against mine as I willed my focus to remain intact. I swore I felt the blood leave my body and congregate in my pants, as if to mock me and test my resolve. Knowing it was useless to fight my growing erection, I attempted to ignore it.

My dick was like a knock-knock joke, constantly throbbing against my zipper until I answered its call. Trying to distract myself, I weaved my hand through Paige’s long hair. It was so soft, my fingers slid right through it. Slowly I brushed my fingertips along her neck as I moved them up toward her cheek. Then I traced her upper lip with one finger, surprised when her tongue darted out and licked it slowly. I closed my eyes and my entire body stilled as she tilted her head and began sucking my finger into her mouth.

“Jesus Christ, Paige,” I muttered, and she instantly pulled away, releasing my finger.

“I didn’t think good Southern boys talked like that,” she said, looking at me with her eyes all big.

“That’s because you believe all the movies you star in.”

“Well, the stereotype has to come from somewhere,” she said as her eyebrows pulled together.

“Yeah. Hollywood.” I framed her face in my palms and pulled her against me. “And girls like you.”

My lips ached for contact with hers. My hands longed to be touching any part of her skin. The electricity that buzzed around us had nothing to do with alcohol, and I knew it. It had been there since day one, I’d just tried to ignore it.

There was no way I could ignore anything that had to do with the girl in my arms. Not any more. And I wouldn’t even bother trying.

I Feel Red

Paige

Kissing Tatum had been electrifying. When I wasn’t in contact with him, I missed the high. My entire body felt like it was linked to his by tiny invisible cords connecting us in a million different points. Whenever he pulled away from me to collect himself, the cords stretched and my body ached against the strain.