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“What?”
She crossed the small kitchen in two steps and stood in front of him. Her heels were gone, toes bare, but her height made it so easy to lean in for a kiss. Lexi, in anticipation, inhaled and yanked open the pantry door. Stephen bit the inside of his jaw and shook his head at the missed opportunity to taste her again.
“I believe I saw a blue box of popcorn up here.”
The height Stephen appreciated on Lexi came at a disadvantage for her. Her long legs strained in vain to reach the top shelf. He took a second opportunity to step in and reach for the box. Lexi backed
herself against the opened door. Both pairs of hands were in the air. Stephen pushed the box near with the tip of his fingers and clasped her left hand in his. He enjoyed the rapid rise and fall of her breast.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“I’m about to kiss you again.” Stephen gave all the warning she needed. He leaned in and brushed his lips against hers. Her free arm wrapped around his broad shoulders, crushing her body against his.
Any thought of the movie was lost, along with Stephen’s plan to take things slow. He drank from her sweet lips and intoxicated himself with her taste. Every inch of his body hardened. Lexi tightened her hand in his. Her fingertips splayed against the nape of his head, circling the spot that fueled his desire. Take it slow, he reminded himself. Stay in control. Stephen reached up and pulled her hand into his, dragging it down to their sides. The back of his hand brushed against the curve of her thigh to the apex, to the source of her heat. A groan bubbled in the back of his throat. He yanked her arm up and above her head, transferring her other hand into his.
One hand held both of hers. He traced the length of her body with his other one, starting with her neck. His thumb brushed against her bottom lip. Lexi broke their kiss and licked the tip of his thumb. Danger flashed in her dark eyes before she closed them again and continued sucking on his bottom lip. The exploration continued. Stephen’s hand brushed her shoulders, his fingertips tracing her collarbone down to the swell of her breasts. Lexi inhaled as if giving him permission. Four fingers played with the material of her dress just beneath her breasts and yanked downward. One breast was exposed, and Stephen broke the kiss this time and dipped his head to introduce his mouth to her pink nipple. A sharp gasp escaped Lexi’s throat.
His tongue became familiar with both of Lexi’s nipples while his hands pulled up the hem of her dress. He sent up a silent prayer of thanks she’d taken off all her undergarments. His fingertips glided around the smooth skin of her belly and hips. Against him, Lexi quivered. He was seconds away from exploring the short curls between her legs when the front door of the suite slammed shut.
Lexi shoved Stephen away and crammed herself into the pantry. His senses swirled and began to make sense of the women bickering in the hallway. Myranda, one of the mothers, stood with an apologetic look on her face. “I’m sorry. Philly wasn’t feeling well.”
“Because she ate three helpings of ice cream,” Kimber growled, annoyance pinching her face. “Not to mention she threw gummy bears and sprinkles on top of them.”
“Uncle Stephen,” Philly moaned, “my tummy hurts.”
“Where’s Lexi?” asked Kimber at the same time Philly turned a unique shade of green.
Myranda backed out of the door. “Well, I’ll let you guys have at it. Philly, feel better. Kimber, thank you for helping out with everyone.”
Shocked Kimber had been of service, Stephen raised his brows. “What? You helped?”
“Whatever,” said Kimber, pushing by her uncle and glancing around the room. “Did Lexi go to sleep? I need her.”
Join the club, Stephen thought. “She’s, ah—” How did he explain Lexi was in the pantry in the kitchen with the hem of her dress wrapped around her waist?
“I found some popcorn,” Lexi hollered, appearing in the doorway of the kitchen. Her long blond disheveled hair piled into a bun at the top of her head. The kiss-stained lips smiled, then parted at the sight of Philly.
Stephen turned in time to preview everything Philly ate this evening. He groaned inwardly. This certainly was a way to take things slow.
Chapter 10
“Ladies and gentlemen, I welcome you back to the thirty-fifth annual Glitzy Southern Pageant,” Waverly announced into the microphone. “On behalf of the Georgia Board of Pageantry, I want to remind everyone of our bylaws, which state no toleration for physical altercations. Let’s set an example for our children and let the show continue!”
Stephen settled into his seat and watched the mothers, photographers and videographers crowd together in the aisles behind a set of judges who were roped off in the first ten rows. A set of security officers sat on the sides as a safety measure. Girls between thirteen and seventeen zoomed around the lobby and into the theater with rollers in their hair, tons of makeup and racy outfits Reading his mind, Lexi, seated immediately to his right, leaned over toward him to whisper behind the program. She smelled like chocolate. He hoped she liked the Dancing Lady orchids. He made sure this morning to have her room filled with them by the time she stepped out of her shower. The fact he entered her bedroom, knowing she was naked in the bathroom, should have earned him an award. Last night had been hard. He’d been hard.
“I don’t offer the extra padding in my outfit of choice costumes,” she whispered. “I think a lot of these pageants are racy enough.”
Now he had to question whether or not to let Philly participate further.
Stephen peered over to his left; Philly sat on Kimber’s lap, thoroughly enjoying the cheerleaders and dancers. Her large, expressive eyes were wide and she smiled so broadly her cheeks might ache by the end of the day. Kimber seemed to be enjoying herself, as well. Stephen understood why Nate found this a haven to meet women. Despite Lexi sitting next to him, seven different women had hit on him.
Lexi nodded. “You’re allowed to bring as many guests as you want to an event, but everyone needs to be listed. The promoters will run a scan on everyone for safety reasons.” Lexi pointed a bare finger towards the red-lit exit signs.
On the sly, Stephen brushed his shoulders against hers. The dark denim jeans clung to her legs and the T-shirt she wore was knotted at the waist. She kept her blond hair in a loose ponytail at the top of her head.
“How long is the show today?”
Disco lights made circles and flashed against the red curtains onstage. Lexi’s eyes widened and a smile spread across her face. “A few hours today. We got over the longest part with the younger girls yesterday. They’re a tad bit slower and unsure of where to go.”
