From the Bookshelf of Turning Pages At Midnight…

“I don’t need your help.”
I shook my head. “Why are you so stubborn?”
“Why are you so bossy?”
“Because it’s fun.”

“Fuck,” he growled. “This could get out of control really easily.”
“I don’t care,” I panted. “Let it.”
“You’re sure? You drank a lot of wine kind of fast, and I don’t—”
“Gianni.” I thumped his ass with my heel. “Don’t fuck this up a second time. You’re never going to have this chance again.”
“You’re not drunk? You really want this?”
“I’m not drunk.” I lifted my head and stroked his bottom lip with my tongue. “And I really want this.”
“Sex can ruin a friendship, you know.”
“Then it’s a good thing we’re not friends.”

“If I give in to you again, you’ll hold it over me for the rest of my life. You’ll remind me constantly that I couldn’t resist you, and then I’m just like every other girl you’ve ever been with.”
“Ellie, for God’s sake.” With my palm still covering her breast, I kissed my way down the curve of her neck to her shoulder. “You’re nothing like any girl I’ve ever been with. And I don’t want you to give in just because I wore down your resistance.”
“No?” Her breath was coming faster.
“No. I want you to give in because it’s what you want. Because it will feel good. Because even though we’re total opposites and not friends and I love giving you a hard time, you know I will always have your back.” I tugged her shoulder, rolling her toward me so we were face to face. “Our history might not be perfect, but it goes back a long way.”
“It does,” she whispered.
I pushed her hair off her forehead. “And you matter to me.” “Okay. That’s enough.”

“Stop.” Gianni reached for my hands. “I’ve always believed in following my gut, and in the past, yes—that’s meant moving around, changing things up, looking for that next adventure. But life led me to you, Ell. And my gut is telling me what we have is better than the rush of a new thing. Maybe you and I will be the greatest adventure yet.”