Page 26 of Passion in Bloom

“I assumed Marty was asking around about me because you’d asked him to.”

I shook my head, watching her glance down at my chest again. Hell, if she kept that up, I’d get harder at the idea of her touching me where she stared. “I didn’t ask him to. I advised him to tread carefully because you prioritize your privacy.”

“Thanks.”

I nodded slowly. “I might hate how you’re keeping me at arm’s length,” I said, making sure no anger could be heard with my words, “but I’m not going to be an asshole and push, Heather. I listen. And I’m not stupid. You say you want to be left alone, I know that you mean it.”

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

“You’re welcome.”

A long, awkward moment hung between us. As she stared at me, I watched her expression shift from that combative frown to something more relaxed. Something more like a wishful gaze.

“Is that all?” I asked once I couldn’t handle the charged tension between us. Lust was getting to me, making me imagine how mad she’d be if we closed the distance between us. Desire filled me, making my dick hard as I gave in to the lure of her being here, alone with me.

“Yes.” She frowned and immediately shook her head. “No.”

“I can’t read your mind,” I said, taking one step closer.

She didn’t run. If anything, she swayed and leaned toward me.

“But I think I’m getting better at reading you, gorgeous.” I took a chance and lifted my hand to cup her cheek. She pressed into my palm, sighing.

“Yeah?” she whispered breathily.

“Uh-huh.” I licked my lips, thrilled when she watched the motion. “And I’m getting a hunch you’re not interested in keeping me at arm’s length right now.”

She stepped closer, into my space, and draped her arms over my shoulders to bring me flush to her. “I want to be in your arms.”

I growled, resting my brow against hers.

“Is this a good idea?” she asked in a sexy whisper as she rubbed her cheek alongside mine.

“I have no clue what this is, gorgeous. You want something, you tell me. You need something, you show me.”

It was more than giving her the opportunity to make herself clear. It was an invitation. It couldn’t be right to segue into something sexy. There were appropriate times for intimacy, but on the tails of talking about her need for privacy, I assumed it wouldn’t be wise to detour into something like sex.

She whined, a slight sound of indecision. Then she masked it by kissing me hard.

I groaned against her mouth, taunted and invigorated by how quickly she slid the tip of her tongue along the seam of mine. And then her entering for a taste, stroking my tongue with hers as we moaned and gasped, deepening the kiss with brutal need and swift urgency.

It was hot. It was fast. And I couldn’t get enough of it.

My dick hardened, and as she rubbed up against me, grinding right there, I lifted my other hand to join the other in cupping her cheeks and holding her head where I could plunder her mouth and invite her to submit.

“I don’t want to talk,” she whispered between panted breaths when she pulled back.

I shook my head. I didn’t either. It couldn’t be smart to dive straight into addressing this desire that pulled us closer together. But neither of us wanted to stop.

“No more talking.,” I agreed. It was wrong. I had no business getting involved with her while she held back from telling me details that I likely needed to know about her situation.

But I couldn’t stop.

She smiled, gifting me with that naughty grin as she kissed me again. Deeper and longer. As though she had no intention of retreating now that she’d made the move to kiss me.

And I was all for it, no matter how much of a mistake it might turn out to be.