Page 32 of Secret Sins

Eyes wide, he backed up one step before holding his ground. "Well, maybe I like it straight from the source. Sticky. Sweet."

God. Fucking. Damn.

"Hot." Grinning now, probably at my consternation, he changed course and stepped forward. "Is your honey locally grown, Bailey?"

"Only the finest for you." My voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart, I cleared my throat. "You said you didn't want to try it."

"It's not that I don't want to, that's for sure."

"We're already linked, you know."

"You and me?" Shaking his head, he said, "Only as acquaintances. No one could use you against me if they thought we were only friends."

Heavy rain suddenly pelted the roof, and I sucked in a breath. "We're obviously drawn to each other. I can't be near you without wanting to kiss you."

"Mm. If that was all you wanted from me, I would kiss you all day long." He leaned against the wall by the register. "Make out like teenagers until the rain is gone."

I groaned. "You can't say stuff like that when you don't mean it."

"Of course, I mean it. The problem is that you want more. We both want more."

I folded my arms over my chest. "Maybe there's something wrong with me for wanting to heal you. I want to take all your pain and fix it, and that makes me feel weak."

"In some ways, living here in this little town has healed me. I feel more human here than I have in years."

"How can you be healed when you're in hiding?"

Stepping closer, he said, "Maybe it is you." His gaze shifted between my eyes and my mouth. "Maybe I want to take your bad days and turn them around."

There was nothing I could say to that. I would let him, if he would follow through. If he would stick around and not run out of my store ten seconds after kissing me.

"Here." Reaching out, he wrapped his hand around my nape and tugged me against him. Chest to chest, my hands moving up to his shoulders, we stood immobile.

"Van, I'm falling too fast for a man whose biggest goal is to leave me when the going gets tough."

Dropping his forehead to mine and dislodging his cap, he breathed out across my face. Stopping him would have been wise, but it would have broken my heart. "If I could be satisfied after having one day with you, and then pretend we're just friends, I would. But I can't do that to you."

"Then what are we doing?" I'd gripped the back of his shirt, desperate to rip it off him. I'd close up early and sprint next door if I thought he was willing.

Then again, I'd wake up to an empty bed, and that would kill me.

"I want you, Bailey. I do."

"But?"

"There's no but."

His mouth descended on mine, the hint of honey on his tongue. Pain blossomed in my chest, knowing this kiss wouldn't last. I felt tears threaten but blinked them back. Van skimmed his hands along my spine to cup the back of my head, deepening the angle and the fervor of his movements. Pressed that close, his body heat seeped into my skin, and I gladly absorbed him. Every ridge along his back responded to the skin of my fingertips, asking for more and offering me sparking lust in return. Our legs tangled, my thigh pressed between his, and I felt his growing hardness.

I only pulled back because I couldn't breathe, but then I rested my head on his shoulder and tried to realign my thoughts. If I laid it all out on the line and he walked away again, I didn't think I could bear it. "I need all of you or none of you."

"Bailey."

"I will accept full responsibility for the threat you feel is looming. And I will give you every cell of my body." Picking up my head, I stared into his eyes. "In return, I want you to figure out how to get into witness protection so you can be safe here. With me."

I held my breath while I waited, while his eyes darkened and the set of his jaw hardened. The sound of his breathing and the rain lashing the windows was the only thing I focused on.

Until he spoke.