Best Dating Rules, Tamie Dearen [literature books to read txt] 📗

no need to be jealous of Josh. I don’t even like him.”

“Is there someone I should be jealous of? If not Asher Denning, someone else? What I really want to know is… Are we dating exclusively?”

“That’s the only way I’d ever date you. I don’t date around.”

“Good.” Relief flooded him. “I realized we hadn’t actually specified. I... You need to know... I really like you. A lot. More than I’ve ever liked another girl.” He hoped that was saying enough, but not too much. If he professed love, she’d probably literally run away, despite her sprained ankle.

“I like you, too.”

Warmth flooded him from his head to his toes. He stopped and turned to face her, pulling her into a hug.

“Spencer, we’re in public.”

“There’s no one anywhere near us, and no one is watching.” He squeezed her tightly, his hands on the small of her back, while he nuzzled her hair. He loved the way she smelled—her hair, her skin, everything. His hands slid up to cup her face, and he lifted her chin, lowering his mouth to hers. But as his lips feathered lightly against hers, she drew back.

“I... I can’t.”

“Seriously, Emily. No one is watching.” He tried to renew their kiss.

“It’s not that. I just don’t think we need to be kissing right now.”

“Why not?”

“Well, kissing leads to other things—more physical things. And I think we need to be ready for more commitment before we do that.”

“No more kissing?”

“At least for a while, until we’re, you know... more committed.”

“Okay.” He agreed with his mouth, but not his head. His mind was replaying their first kiss. How soft her lips felt. The caress of her tongue against his. How responsive she was. His heart sped up at the mere thought of kissing Emily. He’d have to find a way around this new rule. He took her hand in his. “Let’s go get the milk.”

He didn’t broach the subject during the entire expedition. Upon their return to the concrete steps outside their apartment he sat down, patting the space beside him.

“I’m not quite ready to face the crowd.” She sat beside him, and he picked up her hand, caressing her fingers. “Your hands are so elegant. They seem like an artist’s hands.” He lifted her hand to his lips and lightly kissed each digit, nibbling softly with his lips. Her eyelids fluttered closed. He leaned against the side rail and put his left arm around her, pulling her against him, cradling her head against his shoulder. His right hand came up and caressed the line of her jaw. “Your skin is so soft and beautiful, and I love that you don’t wear any makeup.”

He leaned over and pressed his lips to her forehead and breathed in deeply, enjoying her scent. His hand skimmed lightly under her chin. Her breathing quickened and his fingers lifted her face toward his. He kissed her cheek and slid his lips down to her jaw. She raised her chin and exposed her neck, moaning softly. He gently kissed the tender skin on her neck where her blood pulsed madly. He moved back up to her face and feathered gentle kisses on her jaw and around her parted lips, never quite touching them with his.

He pulled away, breathing shallow breaths and concentrating to hold himself back. Emily’s eyes fluttered open, her eyes on his lips, moistening her own with her tongue. Abruptly, she leaned toward him and offered her mouth to him, her soft lips pressed to his, her tongue darting out, enticing him. With a groan he answered her invitation. His mouth slanted against hers. Their lips crushed together in passion.

His world shrank. He was aware of nothing but Emily. Nothing but her face, her mouth, her lips, her tongue, her neck. Nothing but the sensations that spread throughout his system. He pulled back and gasped for air, stopping himself just before his hand dropped down from her neck to forbidden parts. She sat up stiffly, pulling away, smoothing her mussed hair, staring at Spencer in alarm.

“That... that didn’t count. That was a farewell-to-kissing kiss.” He forced a smile, still trying to catch his breath.

“It has to be the last one,” she rasped. “We almost... You see what I mean—kissing is dangerous.”

“Nothing happened.”

“It almost did.”

“It did?” He couldn’t stop the chuckle that escaped.

“Spencer, this is serious.”

“Sorry, sorry. It won’t happen again.” He made a vain attempt to sound contrite.

“Okay. That was the last time. Right?”

“Right,” he answered, hoping she couldn’t detect his insincerity. “Ready to take the milk inside?”

They climbed the steps side by side and entered the door without speaking. He was lost in thought. He’d waited a long time to find a girl he wanted to kiss, and it was even better than he thought it’d be. There was no way he wanted to give that up. There had to be another way.

Chapter Thirteen

“Mom gained two pounds,” Charlie told Emily as they rode toward the climbing gym in Steven’s limo. “The doctor says the antihistamines may be helping. She’s actually starting to eat something other than crackers.”

Emily tried to picture how her skinny mom would look with a full term pregnancy. “She’s got a long way to go before she even starts looking pregnant. I still can’t believe it. I think I’m going to feel more like an aunt than a sister to this kid.”

“Me, too. But I think it could be fun. I’m really happy for Steven.”

“I agree. I know he’s putting on a really brave front for Mom, but I can tell he’s worried she won’t make it all the way.”

“Don’t their chances of making it go up if she gets through the first trimester?”

“I think so, but he’s still too nervous to leave her at home alone. It’s too bad, though. It would’ve been fun to see Josh’s face when Steven showed him up on the climbing wall.”

“Yeah...” Charlie muttered darkly. “I can’t believe I let him bait me into this. I’m sunk if