Spinning out on the ice had scared the hell out of her. Her roommate’s lunatic boyfriend had freaked her out. If Crockett hadn’t jumped in twice to rescue her, her evening would’ve ended in disaster. Those heroic efforts, coupled with their steamy connection at Incognito, had her quivering for a very different reason. The rush of emotion tumbled from her and she drew her knees to her chest androcked.
Their explosive connection tore at her heartstrings. When she’d had the opportunity, she didn’t leave him at Incognito. To further complicate things, she couldn’t get enough of him when she stayed. Their passion had always been off the charts, but now she was making up for lost time. Gritting her teeth, she glanced around the room, cluttered with movingboxes.
Crockett’s king bed was unmade, the navy blue sheets and dark comforter a rumpled mess. She imagined them lying together, her legs entwined around his while he kissed her breathless and moved inside her. A burst of energy surged through her.Enough! I can’t keep going down that path. It’s a deadend.
She had to suppress this constant craving. A steaming hot shower would calm her shattered nerves. After stripping off her clothing, she walked into his bathroom.This is bigger than my bedroom.The Jacuzzi, spacious enough for two, caught her eye. Her mom had mentioned that Crockett and Colton had launched an innovation that could rock the telecom world. Based on his new digs, the world had beenrocked.
Showering had helped. Feeling less anxious, she pulled a sweatshirt from her bag and—crap. In her mad dash to leave, she’d forgotten sweat pants. Even her favorite yoga pants were missing. She tugged on the top and rummaged through Crockett’s drawers until she found a pair of drawstring shorts.These’llwork.
Even though she was in a strange apartment in a new city, being there felt right somehow. Like she belonged. For the first time since she’d moved back, her loneliness lifted a little. Crockett had always had that effect on her.She padded out of his bedroom and down thehall.
“In here,” hecalled.
Crockett stood at his kitchen island cracking eggs into a bowl, shirtless.Oh,boy.
“I’m a big fan of breakfast at three in the morning.Hungry?”
Starving, but not forfood.
His cotton drawstring pants hung low on his hips and his thick thighs stretched against the soft fabric.He hadn’t shaved. Earlier, when she’d kissed him, his scruffy whiskers had scratched her face.And she’d loved the raw burn.Are you trying to tortureme?
He tossed a nod toward her bare legs. “Are you cold? Do you wantpants?”
“I’m fine if you don’t mind my wearing yourshorts.”
With a sly smile, he said, “I’ll suffer throughit.”
Keeping a safe distance, she stood across the island admiring her host. The man standing before her had the body of a god. Over the decade, Crockett had filled out in all the right places. Long and lean, like a runner, but ripped and taut, like a weight lifter.He’s built like atank.
As he moved about the kitchen, her heart fluttered wildly in her chest. Even after learning his true identity, she couldn’t keep her hands off him at theclub.
Why did all roadsalwayslead to this oneman?
With his gaze cemented on her, he rounded the island. The closer he got, the faster the butterflies whirled. She imagined his firm grip and his hard kiss as her body bowed to his. She wanted to say something—anything—but words failed her. All she could do was stareback.
He switched on the stovetop burner, grabbed a pan, and poured in the scrambled eggs. His bare arm brushed against hers and shock waves scurried through her. Shecouldhave moved away. Sheshouldhave moved away. But, like earlier, shedidn’t.
Heat seeped through the thin layer of her worn college sweatshirt. How would he react if she slinked her hands over his biceps? She peeked at him and her breath caught. Long red scratches marred his shoulders. “Wow, you’ve beenclawed.”
“And I loved every second of you.” His deep voice rumbled through her and her insidesclenched.
Me,too.
The Crockett she’d once fallen deeply in love with flashed her a grin. “But, Icoulduse your magictouch.”
Those words punched her gut. In an attempt to diffuse the storm brewing beneath the surface, she grabbed a spatula to push the eggs around in thepan.
During the summer they’d dated, he’d swing by to see her on his way home from karate after work. Kimberly would heat a plate of leftovers, then disappear into her home office. Crockett would tell her about his latest sparring injury, then insist hermagic touchwould make the pain go away. Without fail, her kiss magically healed him, every singletime.
She lowered the heat on the stove, but couldn’t regulate her own internal thermostat. Why did Crockett have to bring up their past? “Do you want antisepticcream?”
Their eyes met. “Where’s the fun in that?” He studied her face and her cheeks burned under his intensity. His commanding presence enticed her toward him. As if under a spell, her lips parted, her breath came in short bursts, and her fingers tingled, desperate to stroke his scruffyface.
Bing!
Saved by the toaster. As she slathered the crispy bread with butter, she squeezed the knife to steady her tremble. When he turned away to pour coffee, she admired his backside. Before she could check herself, she sighed. The wingspan of his broad shoulders paired with that long, muscular back and tight ass rocketed her sex drive into the stratosphere. Then she spied two familiar freckles on his shoulder blade and the bittersweet memory came racingback.
They’d been at the neighborhood pool and had returned to his place to make sandwiches. He hadn’t bothered to put on a shirt and she’d drawn a smiley under the freckles. Next to that she’d penned: ‘CW + AM Forever’. It had been silly and immature, but he hadn’t minded. He’d been the sweetest boyfriend…until he dumpedher.
