A sheepish grin covers his handsome face. “Yeah, I’m halfway decent in the kitchen. You craving something in particular, or does rosemary chicken and sweet potatoes sound good?”
Aww. How is this man still single? “That actually sounds pretty delicious. Oh! What about your animals? You need to go home and feed them! Poor things must be starving.”
“I asked my dad to take care of them for me tonight. They’ll be okay until the next time I’m home. And speaking of, there’s something I want to talk about with you.” He pulls out the chair beside me, folding his big frame into it.
“You look so serious.” His brows are drawn together, and those dark chocolate eyes hold fast to mine.
“I don’t feel right with you being on your own for the night. Not in this neighborhood, and not with the chance of Silas getting irrationally angry and coming back to take it out on you. He and I didn’t exactly part ways on the best of notes. Wait, wait. Hold on—”
I swallow the beginning of my protest back down.
He pulls my hand to his mouth for a soft kiss. “I’ll sleep in my truck, but I’m not leaving you defenseless for the night. I simply can’t do that.”
Oh.
Oh.
Something deep inside me softens at his protectiveness, even as those damn flutters threaten to burst through my stomach at the touch of his lips.
So I give in. I let him cook me dinner, wash the dishes, and then we tape the ripped ultrasound pictures back together. It’s not the same, like he said, but now I have my babies’ heartbeats back.
And when the hour grows late and a yawn cracks his jaw and mine, I grab a pillow and the heaviest blanket I can find, taking them to the couch. “I know it’s not the most comfortable, but I hope it’s better than your truck.”
“I’m sure I’ll be fine. I’ve slept in much worse,” he assures me with hooded eyes.
Then it hits me. This hot giant is going to besleeping on my couch!I fumble my words awkwardly, his presence suddenly unsettling in the very best of ways. “Well, thank you. If you get cold, you can turn on the heater there. Umm... Feel free to help yourself to anything in the fridge or pantry if you get a case of the munchies.” Turning on my feet, I head to my room, but his hand snatches at mine.
“Wait,” he says silkily. Slowly reeling me in, he dips down, nuzzling my shoulder with his nose. At the first deep sniff, goosebumps run over me and chase away any sleepiness I may have had. At the second, electricity follows a beat behind his lips and nose as he moves over the curve of my shoulder and up to my neck and hair.
My whole body comes alive, my nipples and pussy tingling as dizzying arousal washes over me. I bite my bottom lip to hold in my gasp, but when his hot breath moves to my ear, my own breath leaves me in a rush and I grab onto his shirt. God, what I’d give to feel his mouth on my bare skin.
“Leaving without saying good night?” His heated whisper makes my knees wobble as my eyes close.
“I—sorry,” I gasp out, unable to pull away from his touch. I haven’t felt like this in...not ever, really. “Good night.”
“Open your eyes,” he gruffly commands. “Let me see you.”
It’s not as easy as it sounds because they feel ten times heavier than usual. But once I fight them open, I almost combust at the answering heat I see reflected back at me. His hand wraps tightly around the back of my neck and tilts my head back as his face slowly descends toward mine.
Ooh, yes. I’m not going to turn down a kiss from the super-hot giant. Not now that I can think about him guilt-free. I stretch up on my tiptoes to meet him the last few inches, but he smiles faintly and angles away to brush over the curve of my cheek and rub a thumb over my mouth.
A light suck to one corner. “This...”
Over to my opposite cheek to trace down to the other corner. “Is how we say...”
Enough of this teasing. It’s been so long since I’ve been kissed with any emotion. So long since I’ve even felt wanted for more than a quick means for someone else’s pleasure. I miss it, and I want it now. “Good night,” I finish with a little growl. Hunger and need give me the boldness to grab his smooth head and yank him to where I want him most.
Well, not...there.Yet.
Surprised, he chuckles against my mouth, but the amusement quickly fades as we learn the shape of each other with every brush, every nip. Then he deepens the kiss and drinks me in, taking my breath away and giving it back.
When his mouth leaves mine, I almost whimper at the loss, but he tightens his arms around me and gently plays with the ends of my hair.
Listening to the fast beat of his heart that matches the rhythm of mine, I have only one thought:Oh, God. I could get used to this.
Chapter eight
Connor
