“I know you do.” I whisper, watching her and melting at my girl’s ability to be both so cute and childlike, while also being sexy and gorgeous and combining it all in a hysterical mess that still makes me want to kiss her. I tilt her head slowly, making it obvious that I intend to, that I need to, and pause for the rejection that doesn’t come.

Feeling braver and knowing she’s caving, I lean in and softly, carefully graze my lips against hers. My heart somersaulting at the ...