Page 48

“Yes, Kendall. I can lift you.”

“Okay, but don’t hurt yourself,” I warn him.

Monty dips his knees then his arms slip behind my legs and back, sweeping me literally off my feet. He cradles me to his chest without even a grunt of effort.

Which is so damn sexy.

Since I have to do something with my hands, I wrap my arms around Monty’s neck and lock them, bringing our faces close together. Very close.

“That’s great. Now kiss her.”

Monty stares down at me for a moment. “Are you okay with that? We don’t have to…” he says quietly.

“It’s fine,” I tell him as I wet my lips preparing them for a kiss I’ve been waiting on for two long years.

Monty’s lips finally brush mine. They’re soft, warm, and immediately gone in the blink of an eye.

“Come on. You can do better than that!” the photographer admonishes him.

“We’re supposed to be in love, about to get married and spend the rest of our lives together,” I remind Monty when he hesitates to give me the kiss I expected. “You kissed me like I’m your aunt. Or like it was a dare in fifth grade and now you’re afraid that I gave you cooties⁠—”

My words cut off abruptly when his mouth seals over mine with more…everything.

More intensity.

Definitely more heat.

Oh, wow. And a lot of tongue.

This…this is the kiss we should’ve had that night in the elevator.

Monty tastes so good and minty. I don’t ever want him to stop.

I thread my fingers through the back of his hair to kiss him back greedily until the photographer clears his throat. “Yeah…I think I’ve got it. Let’s move to the hammock.”

Monty pulls away and stares down at me behind his sunglasses. I wish I could see his eyes, see if they’re that mix of hungry and sleepy he gets when he’s turned on.

Without a word, though, Monty follows the photographer, carrying me over to the blue quilted hammock strung up between two trees.

“Are you sure this thing can hold both of us?” I ask Adam.

“We do engagement and wedding photos here all the time,” he responds confidently.

“What’s the worst that can happen?” Monty asks.

He turns around and sits down in the middle. We take photos like that, then Adam tells us to lie down. Monty hefts me around as he stretches out his legs.

Slowly, gently, as to not rock the hammock too much, I slide my legs down his body until I’m sort of on one side but still half lying on him.

“Put your hand on his chest. Show off that diamond ring,” Adam suggests, so I do as I’m told. Monty’s chest is hard and smooth and very kissable. I resist though and turn my head to focus on the camera as he snaps more photos.

“Okay, look at each other again,” he instructs us. He takes a few more shots. “Now, kiss but um, just sort of hold it for a second.”

In order for us to kiss this time, I have to remove my hat. Then, it’s up to me to follow through since I’m halfway leaning over Monty. He turns his head and our lips meet for the third time, but it’s no less exhilarating. Feeling his warm breath on mine is…different.

And despite our instructions, one of us, possibly me, deepens the one second kiss, adding a little tongue. Monty’s arm that’s wound around me holds me to him tighter. With my leg thrown over his, I’m nearly on top of him. His other hand surprises me when it grabs my thigh, as if he wants to pull me onto him.

“I’ll give you two a minute,” the photographer says and I couldn’t tell you if he left or not since I’m lost in the kiss, the feel of Monty’s hard body underneath mine. He lifts my leg a little higher and then I’m feeling another rigid part of him.