Page 12 of Deacon

“That’s why you asked me to stay.” And why she’d slept so hard. But why had he slept so well? That one wasn’t so easy to answer. It wasn’t that he had trouble sleeping but rarely slept so hard when there wasn’t a significant amount of alcohol involved. “And you’re sure you don’t want to tell Cowboy.”

“Not unless I have to. If Randy doesn’t come up here, he causes me no more trouble, there’s no reason for Cowboy to know. I handled it. It took moving away, but I handled it.”

Well, she’d handled part of the problem. The trauma the asshole had caused her, and her response to it was a different matter, but Deacon wasn’t going to bring that up, not now.

“And if he does show up?” Deacon asked, his voice soft so he didn’t scare her.

Lisa sat up and twisted around on his lap so she sat sideways and could look up at him. Her lashes were spiky with the tears she’d shed and the flush on her cheeks made him want to pull her close and tell her everything would be okay. But that wouldn’t be good.

“If he does show up, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.” She tilted her head to one side and watched him for a moment. “You know, there’s something I’ve always been curious about."

"What’s that?”

“This.” She didn’t give him time to wonder what she was thinking about or what she meant as she leaned close and kissed him.

Fire raced through his senses. Her lips parted against his, the tip of her tongue coaxed his mouth open, and he lost track of who she was and all the reasons he’d told himself for years that this couldn’t happen. All that existed was the warm, pliant woman in his arms and that she was kissing him like they were the last two humans on earth.

8

Lisa soon forgot her embarrassment at telling Deke everything that she’d been through and how she’d come running home with her tail between her legs. Or at least that was how it felt.

Now, all she could think about was how it felt to be sitting on Deke’s lap. How good his arms felt wrapped around her. How safe and secure he made her feel. He’d been running from her a long time, but she was no longer a kid and maybe, just maybe he was willing to see where this could go?

She hadn’t taken many chances lately. She’d been struggling just to get through the ordeal with Randy. But the way he made her feel as he’d held her while she sobbed, then reassured her while she told him about Randy made her wonder if maybe it could work.

Lisa hadn’t given herself a chance to think about what she was doing, instead she’d given in to impulse and kissed him. It took him a few moments to react, but once he gave in, he soon took over. Not that Lisa minded. One of the things she’d always loved about him was his take charge personality. And this time was no different.

His arms tightened around her, not keeping her from moving, but tugging her closer. The heat from his body relaxed her against him as he plundered her mouth. She was quickly overcome with the desire to give him whatever he wanted. Though she’d never had any urge to deny him before, unless what he’d wanted was her to leave him alone. That she couldn’t do. Not until she knew for certain that they would never work.

This kiss? This kiss was not leading her to believe that. Her arms seemed to find their own way around his neck. She shifted in his lap until she knelt astride him. His hands on her hips shifted them backwards a bit but it was impossible to miss the erection sandwiched between them.

He wasn’t anymore unmoved by this than she was. One hand found its way into his hair, combing through the thick strands then holding on.

He groaned and his kiss got even more intense. His fingers curled into her hips and tugged her close again.

When he broke the kiss, Lisa was left breathing hard, as if she’d been running up hill for the last ten minutes.

“We shouldn’t do this,” Deke’s voice was little more than a growl. He dropped his forehead against hers. “Cowboy’s my brother.”

“Mine too.” She couldn’t help the smart remark or the cheeky grin she flashed him. “But since we’re both adults, and not just barely, he’s got no say in what either one of us do. He’s happy with Ava, do you deserve that same chance, no matter who it might be with?”

“Are you sure you want to mess with this old man? I’m difficult to live with and set in my ways.”

“I haven’t said anything about living with you, not yet. But I think it’s worth a try. Especially if it’s as hot between us as that kiss. Have you reacted like that to anyone else lately? I haven’t.” She didn’t give him a chance to deny it but kissed him again instead. If nothing else, it might show him how much he wanted to at least try this… or not, at least she’d have another kiss to remember.

She didn’t know how long the kiss went on. Only that when he pulled away, he’d taken his hands off her and had them fisted on either side of her on the sofa.

“I’m finding it next to impossible to keep from dragging you in the bedroom and stripping off every stitch you’re wearing.” His eyes had gone dark, and his voice was a low rumble that vibrated through her.

“Do it. You won’t find me complaining.”

“You already have enough trouble with one man who won’t leave you alone. Why would you welcome another?” He scowled, clearly not seeing the difference.

“Let’s see how many differences we can find here.” She sat back on her heels, still on his lap. She wasn’t giving up this position of power until she had to. “First,” she held up her fist and lifted the thumb, “I invited you here. I never told him where I lived. Second,” she lifted the flipped her index finger to join her thumb, “I invited you in. Third,” she let her ring finger join the others, “I put my hands on you first. Fourth,” she lifted her ring finger and leaned close so she could whisper this one close to his face, “I want your hands on me.” She let her hand fall to rest between them and let her voice return to a normal tone. “You don’t scare me, even when you give that menacing glare. I know you’ll never hurt me. At least not in a way I don’t want.”

Deke quirked one brow. “You seem awfully sure of that. Right now, I’m tempted to spank you for not telling me what was going on last night.”

“What makes you think I wouldn’t want that?” She couldn’t help the smart remark and sassy, challenging look that seemed the natural response to his threat. Or at least he seemed to think it was a threat. While a spanking might sting, it wouldn’t actually hurt her. And something told her, if Deke was involved, she’d enjoy the hell out of it.

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