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“I do know. More than you know,” he whispered.
His hand tightened on hers. Threading their fingers together, he moved in close and his strong arms wrapped her in a tight embrace. She leaned back into his warmth, savoring the comfort he offered as she wiped the tears that’d spilled over.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” he admonished. “You deserve better.”
She agreed. Joel’s declaration that her father was a sonofabitch opened her eyes. Of course, her mother had already told her the same thing, but it held a little more weight coming from someone who hadn’t resented him for the past fifteen years.
She became aware of his chin resting on her shoulder, the light prick of his whiskers against her neck. Beneath his forearm, her heart rate picked up speed, and she felt his do the same against her back.
Joel might not offer her more than a few weeks—or even past tonight, but maybe that was just what she needed. A man who was completely up front with her.
No expectations.
No lies.
No disappointment.
She closed her eyes and turned her head toward his. “I know what I want. For tonight, anyway.”
Chapter 19
The husky words seared through Joel, igniting the banked fire in his veins. The past half-hour had been torture. After each spoonful of dessert, she’d licked her lips. And each time he saw her tongue, he’d felt a thread of his control unravel. She drove him crazy with an act as simple as eating ice cream. He prayed to God she would finish, and in the next instant thought
of offering her more.
Until her father entered the conversation. What a bastard.
On an emotional level, he completely understood her pain. Physically, her tears had put an ache in his chest, something he’d never experienced before. Just as unfamiliar, the need to comfort.
And now, suddenly she turned in his arms and pressed her lips to his, her mouth hot, eager. A second of surprise was instantly overridden by a desire that had been put on simmer for far too long. He buried one hand in her hair and wrapped the other arm about her waist to pull her close.
Seconds later, she dragged his shirt from the waistband of his jeans, then wedged her arms between them. Unsteady fingers fumbled with the buttons on his shirt.
He lifted his hands to clasp hers. “Slow down.”
She didn’t listen.
Despite the need pulsing through him, something wasn’t sitting right, and he offered a second half-hearted protest. “This might not be such a good idea.”
She pulled her hands from his and wound her arms around his neck. “It’s the best idea I’ve had all day.”
Me, too.
Except she’d specifically said she didn’t do benefits. More than once. So what was the sudden turn around about?
Why the hell are you thinking right now?
The answer hit him, and he groaned in frustration. The sound vibrated from deep in his throat, and he felt her smile against his mouth. Her tongue slid against his, drawing him in, seducing him with the promise of heaven to come.
With her plastered against him, he almost forgot about everything else. She felt right in his arms. Not just good, or even amazing, but right.
Like he could keep her there forever.
His heart thumped hard. He broke the kiss and tried to suck air into lungs that refused to let any in. She was still too close. He couldn’t think straight with her soft breasts pressed to his chest, her hips practically cradling his straining erection. The need to bury himself in her heat had him spinning them both around to pin her against the counter.
She held on as he devoured her mouth. Tasting, sucking, delving so deep the pressure in his groin built to unbearable level. He ground his hips against hers and her soft moan filled his mouth.
