Out of Line (Out of Line #1)(37)
Author: Jen McLaughlin

Though studying hadn’t been in my plans for the night, I hadn’t missed the way she’d hesitated when Cory asked her if she wanted to study. I knew she was torn between doing what she wanted to do, and what she should do. Hell, I knew that particular dilemma all too well. So I made the decision for her. She could have both. She didn’t need Cory to study.

She had me.

I might not be going to college to become a doctor, but I could certainly hold up a flashcard and help her cram words into her head. When I finished cooking dinner, I headed back inside. She was still on the couch, but she’d sprawled out across it and was balancing the book on her chest. I set the platter of burgers down on the kitchen counter, cracked open a beer, and took a long draw, my eyes on her the whole time. She’d finished her milkshake. Maybe I’d make her another one later. Anything to make her happy.

Her mouth moved silently as she read, but otherwise she was still. Yep. I definitely could get used to this. “Dinner’s ready.”

She jumped slightly and looked at me. “What?”

“Dinner.” I motioned to the plate behind me. “It’s ready.”

“Oh.” She set the book down and rubbed her temples. “I didn’t realize I’d been reading that long.”

“Yep, you were.”

I stood in front of her and tugged her to her feet. She wrapped her arms around me once she was standing, then kissed the spot directly over my heart. I hugged her close, my heart speeding up at the soft kiss. I wished…

Wished these things would never change. Wished she wouldn’t have to hate me. Wished I didn’t have to tell her the truth tonight. The cowardly part of me wanted to hold back. Wait. But I knew it was the right thing to do, even if I didn’t want to.

She rose up on tiptoes and kissed me. “Ready?”

Hell no. “Yeah, come on.”

I grabbed her hand and led her into the kitchen. As we built our burgers, mine with mustard and ketchup, hers just ketchup, I kept stealing glances at her. She was tapping her foot as she created her meal, her lips moving silently. I had no idea if she was singing or citing medical terms, but either way…fucking adorable.

I grinned. “You singing a song over there?”

“Hm?” Her foot stopped mid-tap. “Maybe.”

I scooped her up in my arms. “Don’t stop. I love it.”

Her cheeks tinged pink. “Really?”

“Really.”

She pushed out of my arms and tucked her hair behind her ear. “Well, then, you better get used to it. I’m kind of a dork.”

“I find you adorkable.”

She snorted. “That was a pretty adorkable thing to say.”

“We have to stick together.”

She flopped down on the couch. “I have to eat this, then give me ten more minutes to study.” She picked her burger up. “Then we play.”

“Deal.”

We ate in companionable silence. Once she was finished, I cleared our plates and busied myself with the dishes while she studied. I leaned against the counter and dried my hands. “How’s it going over there?”

She glanced up at me. “I feel like I ate a house, but I think I’m ready.”

I crossed the room and took the book out of her hands. I glanced down at the page and scrunched my eyebrows together. “Exciting stuff, huh?”

“It’s anatomy.” She stretched her arms over her head, baring a tiny strip of stomach. That was all I needed to want her. Hell, I didn’t even need that. “None of it is exciting.”

“I beg to differ,” I said. I dropped to my knees in front of the couch and pushed her shirt back up. She sucked in a deep breath and held it, her bright blue eyes on me. “I find anatomy, yours in particular, quite exciting.”

She arched a ginger brow at me. “Oh really?”

“Mmhm.” I ran my fingers over the bare strip of skin and kissed it. “Really.”

She threaded her hands through my hair, holding me there. I closed my eyes and practically purred like a cat. This. Right here. I could live like this quite happily for the rest of my life. I nibbled on the patch of skin right under her belly button, tightening my grip on her hips when she started squirming.

“Don’t stop doing that,” she whispered, her eyes drifting shut. “Like, ever.”

I didn’t want to. “Are you sore?”

“No.” Her cheeks turned red, and she opened her eyes to peek at me. “My lower extremities are fine.”

“Look at you, showing off your medical vocabulary.” I kissed her stomach, this time a little bit lower and grabbed her waistband. “Say something else the book taught you, and I’ll kiss you again.”

She spouted off some medical jargon I couldn’t really understand, but it sounded legit. As long as I got to kiss her some more, I’d be happy. I undid her pants and pulled them off her legs. She had a dark purple satin thong on that just might be my favorite color in the whole world right now. I ran my fingers over the soft satin, dipping down to brush across her clit.

Her left leg fell to the floor, granting me better access. I took full advantage of this, slipping in between her legs and nibbling on her upper thigh. “Say something else or I’ll stop.”

“The way you make me feel…” she moaned. “Will soon cause a series of muscle contractions in the genital region…that will be accompanied by a sudden release of endorphins.”

I blinked up at her, amusement threatening to overtake my desire. “Did you give me the medical definition of an orgasm?”

“Yes,” she said through her teeth. “Now kiss me again.”

I laughed and flicked my tongue over her clit, through her panties. “More.”

“Argh.” She yanked on my hair with just enough force to make my scalp sting. I liked that too. “When the endorphins rush to my head, I’ll experience a sudden sensation of…”

I tugged down her panties, listening to her medical talk, but not really paying attention. At this point, I was a little bit too distracted by the fact that I wanted to make those endorphins she’d mentioned rush to her head. Repeatedly. When her thong fell to the floor along with her pants, I nibbled my way up her thigh. The closer I got to her clit, the faster she babbled. And the faster I forgot all about studying, and could only focus on her.

She whimpered and tried to urge me closer. I let her take control of me. Let her put me where she wanted me…but only because I wanted to be there. When I flicked my tongue against her clit, her legs jerked and she moaned. I liked the sounds coming out of her mouth. I needed more.