CHAPTER THIRTEEN – REAGAN

Pucker Up, Bitches

I was kissing Noah.

Here, in the dark. At the top of the old steps that gave access to Creek Falls Cove. I was wrapped in his arms and gripping onto him like my life depended on it. My heart was doing the freaking flamenco inside my chest and there wasn’t a part of me that wasn’t on fire thanks to the heat of his lips.

They moved across mine with all the fervor of someone who’d wanted to kiss me first. I was the one who’d touched my lips to his, and it’d just happened.

He’d looked at me like, well—

He wanted to kiss me.

So I’d done it for him.

I wasn’t a girl who could stand and stare at someone all romantic and shit, so I’d gone in for the kill.

And now I was obsessed.

Obsessed with the feeling of his lips moving against mine. Obsessed with how he held me tight to him. Obsessed with the rush of sensations that flooded my body.

Ob. Freaking. Sessed.

I knew this man was dangerous.

I was afraid I hadn’t realized just how dangerous.

I pulled back and dipped my chin so there was a breath of space between our mouths. “Um,” I breathed.

“Did you just kiss me?” Noah whispered, his voice hoarse.

I blushed. “Little bit.”

“Little bit?” His fingers twitched. “If that was a little kiss, I’d love to see a make out session.”

Laughter burst out of me, and I pressed my face into his muscular chest. His body shook along with mine, and he tightened his arms around me.

Maybe it was because he’d saved my life.

Maybe it was because there was something about him that drew me to him.

Maybe it was just him.

But I’d never felt so safe in someone’s arms.

It was a jarring feeling; unnerving, almost. I wasn’t someone who found comfort in another person, not the way some people did. Yet with Noah, it was almost second nature.

I could stand here in his arms all night.

Literally all night.

I’d fall asleep here given half a chance.

“You still wanna go down?” I asked, shrugging one shoulder toward the beach.

“Can you see anything?”

“Not really.” I hesitated. “But the moon is coming out, and it’s always beautiful in the dark.”

He reached between us and tilted my head up. “Lead the way.”

The smile that stretched across my face was far too wide and far too bright, but I didn’t care in this moment.

It was the epitome of carefree.

I loved it.

I reached down and pulled off my shoes by the heels. I gripped them tightly and turned toward the steps that swept around the hill and lead to the beach. The steps were a mixture of stone and wood, but the wood was so well worn that I wasn’t worried about walking over it barefoot.

Noah fumbled behind me, then a flash of light appeared.