she didn’t need to be
touched, but it was a lie—such a lie. Desire eclipsing fear, she closed her
eyes and met his kiss with her own.
B rett’s kiss was
full of warmth and sweetness. The need it inspired went straight to her
center and radiated out again with unexpected power. Her breath caught as the
fingers of her free hand clenched at the air, longing for more. He started to
pull back. Without thinking, she reached for his shoulder and wrapped questing
fingers in the crisp fabric of his shirtfront. He felt so good.
A noise of
surprise shook from him. Instead of pulling away, he deepened the kiss. The
pressure of his fingers on her jaw increased, making her gasp as his tongue
grazed her lips. She parted them, and the tip of his tongue circled hers. Her
shuddering fingers splayed against his chest, no longer clutching but feeling
him and the firmness of his chest muscles beneath her palm.
He pulled away,
decisively this time. His breath quivered as his temple rested against hers.
“I’m going to back up before I forget I’m on someone else’s couch.”
She laughed
self-consciously and leaned back then pushed her hair behind her ear.
“Are you…” His
voice trailed off. She looked up to see emotions running across his face with
no attempt to hide any of them. Eagerness, doubt, restraint. Desire.
She’d made him
feel those. She’d forgotten how good it felt to have that power, but it was
strange to be with someone who didn’t hide anything. “Am I what?”
“Are you staying
here after I leave? Is that your plan?” The teasing grin was back, but the
lightness was forced over him this time, like that story of the wolf wearing
sheepskin. “Talk about me with your friends?”
Of course she had
been, and of course he knew that. But the look in his eyes said he wanted to
take her to a different couch where he didn’t have to worry about privacy. No
pressure, just an opening she could take if she wanted.
She was tempted.
Tempted and terrified. She made up a story in her head of what would happen.
They’d go someplace, he’d get her out of his system and then she’d be rid of
him. No complications. No risks. And it would be nice to be touched again. If
his kisses were any indication, it would no doubt be very nice to be touched by
him.
And yet the
thought of a relationship with Brett that was so cheap and held so little
substance was a letdown when he felt so innocent.
Innocent. What a
silly word to describe a full-grown man, and she doubted he’d appreciate it. “I
was planning to stay here for a while, yes.” She turned toward the kitchen.
“Help them clean up.” Not that that was necessary after their bet.
His knuckles
brushed her chin, turning her face up to his. “Hey, I didn’t mean to make you
think so hard.” His smile turned self-deprecating. “I see what I want, and I go
marching that way. Tunnel vision.”
She smirked.
There he went again, laying it all out on the table. As someone who hid, well,
practically everything from the world, it was unsettling. And yet beautiful.
“And what is it you want, Brett?”
The question
seemed to confuse him. “Well, you. I haven’t made that obvious yet?”
She chuckled. Brett wasn’t innocent; he was a human being. Didn’t make him a bad person. Just
made him a person.
He threw one hand
in the air, and it dawned on her he was still holding the other. “No, no. Don’t
take that the wrong way.” He huffed in irritation. “I swear I’m normally good
with words, then I get around you and turn into an ass.” He took her other hand
and held them both in his lap. His eyes widened slightly and he slid them down
to his knee, as if to illustrate his point. “I’m not trying to get you into
bed. Or not in the way you’re thinking, because it’s not like I’d tell you no.
Uh, that’s outside of my point. My point being…” He looked down, lips pursed
into a thin line as if he was trying to keep them shut long enough to think. “My
touched, but it was a lie—such a lie. Desire eclipsing fear, she closed her
eyes and met his kiss with her own.
B rett’s kiss was
full of warmth and sweetness. The need it inspired went straight to her
center and radiated out again with unexpected power. Her breath caught as the
fingers of her free hand clenched at the air, longing for more. He started to
pull back. Without thinking, she reached for his shoulder and wrapped questing
fingers in the crisp fabric of his shirtfront. He felt so good.
A noise of
surprise shook from him. Instead of pulling away, he deepened the kiss. The
pressure of his fingers on her jaw increased, making her gasp as his tongue
grazed her lips. She parted them, and the tip of his tongue circled hers. Her
shuddering fingers splayed against his chest, no longer clutching but feeling
him and the firmness of his chest muscles beneath her palm.
He pulled away,
decisively this time. His breath quivered as his temple rested against hers.
“I’m going to back up before I forget I’m on someone else’s couch.”
She laughed
self-consciously and leaned back then pushed her hair behind her ear.
“Are you…” His
voice trailed off. She looked up to see emotions running across his face with
no attempt to hide any of them. Eagerness, doubt, restraint. Desire.
She’d made him
feel those. She’d forgotten how good it felt to have that power, but it was
strange to be with someone who didn’t hide anything. “Am I what?”
“Are you staying
here after I leave? Is that your plan?” The teasing grin was back, but the
lightness was forced over him this time, like that story of the wolf wearing
sheepskin. “Talk about me with your friends?”
Of course she had
been, and of course he knew that. But the look in his eyes said he wanted to
take her to a different couch where he didn’t have to worry about privacy. No
pressure, just an opening she could take if she wanted.
She was tempted.
Tempted and terrified. She made up a story in her head of what would happen.
They’d go someplace, he’d get her out of his system and then she’d be rid of
him. No complications. No risks. And it would be nice to be touched again. If
his kisses were any indication, it would no doubt be very nice to be touched by
him.
And yet the
thought of a relationship with Brett that was so cheap and held so little
substance was a letdown when he felt so innocent.
Innocent. What a
silly word to describe a full-grown man, and she doubted he’d appreciate it. “I
was planning to stay here for a while, yes.” She turned toward the kitchen.
“Help them clean up.” Not that that was necessary after their bet.
His knuckles
brushed her chin, turning her face up to his. “Hey, I didn’t mean to make you
think so hard.” His smile turned self-deprecating. “I see what I want, and I go
marching that way. Tunnel vision.”
She smirked.
There he went again, laying it all out on the table. As someone who hid, well,
practically everything from the world, it was unsettling. And yet beautiful.
“And what is it you want, Brett?”
The question
seemed to confuse him. “Well, you. I haven’t made that obvious yet?”
She chuckled. Brett wasn’t innocent; he was a human being. Didn’t make him a bad person. Just
made him a person.
He threw one hand
in the air, and it dawned on her he was still holding the other. “No, no. Don’t
take that the wrong way.” He huffed in irritation. “I swear I’m normally good
with words, then I get around you and turn into an ass.” He took her other hand
and held them both in his lap. His eyes widened slightly and he slid them down
to his knee, as if to illustrate his point. “I’m not trying to get you into
bed. Or not in the way you’re thinking, because it’s not like I’d tell you no.
Uh, that’s outside of my point. My point being…” He looked down, lips pursed
into a thin line as if he was trying to keep them shut long enough to think. “My
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