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“Branch’s waistline.”
“Ha, but seriously.”
“We’re not talking about me, Mandy—”
“We’re always talking about me. I want you to answer my question.”
She never would have persisted like this a few weeks ago. Against his better judgement, Ted moved closer. Close enough so his body was touching hers.
“You scare me.” He cupped her cheek and kissed her.
They’d kissed once before at the lodge, and he remembered how he’d felt. As if someone had punched him hard in the gut. This was no different.
Her lips were sinfully soft, she smelled of something elusive, and her body pressed to his felt way better than it should.
“Why d-do I scare you?” She asked the question as he eased back slightly.
“You need to ask that after what we just shared? I want you, and I don’t know what to do about it.”
Chapter 16
Mandy had forgotten about the missed calls on her phone as soon as Ted kissed her. She wanted more, and what surprised her was that she was determined to get it.
She grabbed his shoulders, tugging him closer. Rising to her toes, this time she kissed him.
She’d never instigated a kiss before; in fact, she was a novice in that area after sharing only one with this man. He made her feel things inside. Things she’d often wondered about but never thought to experience.
A large hand on the back of her head tilted it slightly and then he took over. It wasn’t gentle anymore. This was desperation.
“Mandy,” he rasped against her lips. “This has to stop.”
“Why?”
“We’re different people. You’re innocent and sweet, and I’m not.”
“That makes no sense. It’s not like you’re a career criminal, Ted. You’re kind and gentle.”With me.Mandy pressed her lips to his, enjoying the fluttering feeling inside her tummy as she did so. His body felt hard against her soft one. Everything about him was a contrast to her, and it was exciting.
She felt his hand on her ribs, the heat burning through her dress. Then he touched her breast, and she shuddered. He cupped it gently, and Mandy had never in her life experienced such a feeling. Sensation ricocheted through her entire body.
So this is passion.
She tried to get closer.
“No!” He grabbed her shoulders and stepped back. “No,” he said, softly this time, hauling in a deep breath.
“Why?” Mandy wanted more and knew he did, felt it in his body.
“Because it will get complicated, and I don’t want that. Anything between us would be brief. You couldn’t handle that, and I can’t offer you more.”
“I don’t remember asking you for more,” she said, trying to understand what he was saying.
“How many men have you slept with, Mandy?”
“What has that got to do with us kissing?” She wasn’t telling him she was a virgin. Not now.
“How many men have you dated?”
He stood there, arms folded, speaking in a calm voice as if the last few minutes hadn’t happened. How was he composed so quickly, when seconds ago he’d been as affected as her… hadn’t he? Was she deluding herself, and in fact this was something he did regularly with women and was no big deal?
