Page 44 of Silver Player

“Life of a small business owner,” I jest, hoping he’ll understand. “Although you’re hardly small business in this town.” He doesn’t fall for the compliment or allow me to divert us. I’m expecting a retort of how big he is when he only whispers my name, and the brush of air crosses my lips.

“I apologized,” I stammer as if that clarifies everything.

“For puking on my boots.” He chuckles, watching his finger trace over the lower curve of my mouth. “But do you remember apologizing for nearly kissing me?”

“Why would I try to kiss you?” I stammer defensively against what I did try to do. Billy purrs in response.

“You also told me a few other things that night.”

Panic settles in quickly. What could I have said to him? Oh, God, there are so many things. My stomach flips, and my shoulders fall.

Your eyes are beautiful.

You are an incredibly sexy man.

I’m attracted to you more than I should be.

“You told me you’d never had a man take care of you like I did.”

I pause, blinking up at him. “What?” I choke. We didn’t do anything. I’d have known, right? I would have felt something, aftereffects or…Billy wouldn’t do that. He wouldn’t take advantage of someone in my condition.

“You were so sick, and I held back your hair. Then I brushed your teeth for you and washed off your face.”

Oh. “You did?” How could I not remember these things?

“I led you to bed, and you kept apologizing, telling me you didn’t mean to kiss me, and it would never happen again.”

Oh God, but it’s true. I wouldn’t ever offer myself up to him again, but then I feel the warmth of his fingers against my neck while his thumb continues to rub my lip, and I’m a mess even lower. I’d throw myself at him in a heartbeat if I knew he wouldn’t reject me again.

“Then you told me you could fall in love with me.”

I gasp. If I said that, it was the worst attempt at a seduction in the history of seductions. On the other hand, I would never admit to him how I could fall in love with him under better conditions. My eyes freeze on his face. I don’t think I even blink. “I did not say that.”

“I guess you’ll never know.” The corner of his lip curls even deeper while he continues to watch his thumb outlining my lips.

I decide ignorance is bliss and continue to pretend I didn’t do what he said. “Why would I want to kiss you?” I adamantly defend, returning to the first offense.

“Me thinks she doth protest too much.” One brow tweaks.

“I don’t,” I state, although I’m unsteady as I speak, and my eyes continue to drift to his lips.

“Oh, but you do.”

“Why would I want to kiss you?” I repeat as if I’m looking for an answer. The one where he tells me he wants to kiss me.

“Because you know it might be the best kiss of your life,” he teases.

“You are so full of it,” I snap, our eyes locking. Fine. I can play his game. “Kissing you would mean nothing.”

“I guess we’ll never know,” he mocks, and I take the challenge. I lean into him, clamping my lips over his. My first thought is he won’t escape me again. My second is I can’t believe I’ve thrown myself at him again, and my final thought is, I hate when he’s right.

Our mouths move like they were meant to be pressed together. His hand cups the back of my neck, holding me in place as he quickly takes control of the moment, no longer allowing me to lead but him to command. He wants my lips, my tongue, my breath, and he’s stealing it all from me. And I’m giving it to him like the fool I am.

The desk edge bites into the back of my thighs as my full body presses against the wood. I’m leaning back when I realize where this could lead, but like I challenged of him, this will mean nothing. I press at his shoulders, not as forcefully as that first time but enough to signal I’m done. Billy pulls back reluctantly, stealing another quick tug before meeting my eyes. His brow arches in question.

“See? Nothing,” I lie as my stomach flutters and my palms sweat. A beat races at my core. My voice betrays me. I’d keep kissing him if I didn’t think he gave in to prove his point, and he proves mine with his next words.

“Kissing is my specialty, darlin’, and I know that was the best yet.”