Ravenous by Eden Summers Page A

angelic face tilted up to him, her light green eyes glazed with the same heartache burning in his chest. “This morning I woke up to Karen banging on my door, demanding we go on a road trip. I’m not going to lie to you, if it wasn’t for Karen I wouldn’t be here but it was my choice to come and see you.” Tears welled in her eyes. “I just feel so ashamed of the way I’ve acted.”
    A single tear streaked down her flawless cheek and he concentrated on the trail it left. When another fell, she turned away. “That woman downstairs…is she…?”
    Unable to keep his arm at his side, he reached for her hand and pulled her into his chest. “My girlfriend?” They were thigh to thigh, her erratic heartbeat pulsing into his lungs and her lips bare inches from his.
    “Yes,” she whispered, staring at his throat.
    He paused, because evidently he was a jerk. After everything he’d been through he wanted her to wonder, even if for just a few seconds whether he was already with another woman. “She’s a waitress. A rather flirty waitress, but I’m not sleeping with her.”
    She exhaled in a rush and he felt her body lose some of its rigidity. “I’m so sorry, Jesse.”
    Her arms encircled his waist and he held her tight. He had no idea what this meant or what her apology implied, all he knew was that he felt the same. He was sorry for everything. For not trying harder to keep her, or demanding they stay together even with the distance between them.
    “I don’t want to let you go.” Her breath heated his skin like liquid fire.
    His throat dried to the point of pain and he swallowed to release the tension. “I don’t want to let you go either.” He tilted her chin so they made eye contact and wiped away her drying tears. “I’m willing to try a long distance relationship if you are.”
    She shook her head and his hope crumpled.
    “I can’t do long distance.” Her hands climbed up his stomach to rest on his pecs. “But…,” her brow furrowed with concern and she focused over his shoulder, “I’m willing to give city life a try if you can help me find a place to stay.”
    He replayed the words in his mind, not entirely sure that he hadn’t dreamed them. Cupping her cheeks in his palms he stared into her uncertain eyes. “What did you say?”
    Her lips tilted in a soft smile. “I’ll move to Sydney if it means I can be with you.”
    Every inch of his body broke out in a sweat and the heavily compacted exhaustion vanished from his limbs. He slammed his mouth against hers and palmed the back of her head to keep her steady. His tongue swiped her lips, demanding immediate entrance and she moaned in acquiescence. He devoured her with hard licks, confident strokes and didn’t come up for air until she was mewling for more.
    “Tell me again.” He kissed the side of her lips, her cheek, her jaw, her neck.
    Her breath hitched and she clung to his uniform. “I love you.”
    His heart stopped and his lungs filled with cement. He lifted his head from her neck and peered down into her smiling eyes. “I swear I’m having trouble hearing properly.”
    She beamed back at him and stroked his cheek. “No, you heard right.” Her teeth grazed his bottom lip. “I love you, Jesse.”
    Closing his eyes, he breathed in the floral scent of her hair. He couldn’t wait to have the smell of her on his clothes, his pillows, through his entire house. “Move in with me.”
    Erin pulled back with a jerk and frowned at him. “You want me to move in straight away? Are you sure that isn’t a little too soon?”
    He removed the handbag strap from her shoulder and laid the bag on the floor. “I’d say it’s about eight years late.” He ran his hands down her waist and pulled her close. “And we have a lot of catching up to do.” Pressing his erection into her pelvis, he ground his hips into her.
    She arched her back, rubbing her breasts against him. He nuzzled her neck, licked the salty flesh and suckled. His cock