Page 29 of No One But You

“Kai, what’s wrong?” There was concern in her voice.

“Nothing.” I combed my fingers through my hair and shook my head. What was I doing? I came to Orlinda Valley to start a new life, but I don't need to involve anyone in my drama. My plan was to work and live alone. My feelings were all muddled up. Kora was a wrinkle in my plan. Things were becoming difficult.

She stepped closer and again reached up and brushed her finger over the scar. “What happened? How’d you get this?”

I grabbed her hand. This needed to stop. “Don’t. It’s not something I have any desire to discuss.”

Kora’s eyes filled with something I couldn’t pinpoint. “Kai, I want to get to know you. I don’t know what caused this scar, but it’s intriguing and it can’t be that bad, but even if it is, it doesn’t matter.” She closed the little gap between us and licked her lips. “The scar’s old. Whatever happened is in the past.”

She was right. I couldn’t let the past ruin my life forever. I promised my sister before she drove away that I would try and find happiness. That’s why I came here, so far from home. To start over.

But finding a relationship? That wasn’t the plan.

These feelings were definitely not part of the plan.

I reached out and brushed her hair off her shoulder. “Trust me. You may not like the answer you get. This scar is the remnant of a bad home life. A past I’d rather forget.” I tried to clear the memories that invaded my consciousness. “Something you wouldn’t understand.”

“My life wasn’t perfect. My parents got divorced when I was young. My mom left and I hardly ever saw her.” Kora placed her hands on my chest. “My dad worked hard, and with my Aunt Tonya and the close community, yeah, I had a good life, but it wasn’t perfect.”

I rubbed my thumbs along her jawline. The air became thick with need, and electricity rippled between us.

I needed to do what I promised Darlene I would do. Get Kora home safely.

I hardly knew her. This wasn’t a good idea. She wasn’t someone to have a fling with. If I wanted that, I could go get Barb. I needed to ignore whatever this was and get my body under control.

Yet nothing in me could step away.

Her gaze burned into me, and the pull between us became stronger. Her lips looked delicious, and when she licked them again, I couldn’t ignore her any longer. The desire I had been fighting since that first day on the side of the road became the focus. “I’m sorry. I know this is wrong.” I placed my lips on hers. They were soft and warm just like I thought they would be.

The kiss started soft for a split second until the electricity between us exploded. I forced her lips open with my tongue and she readily obliged. Our tongues danced together. She tasted like the mint gum she had been chewing.

Her hands wrapped around my neck and gripped tightly in my hair as the kiss deepened. That’s all the encouragement I needed.

I pulled her firmly against me and knew immediately that she could feel how badly I wanted her. I pushed her up against the newly built wall and lifted her. She wrapped her legs around my waist as I trailed kisses down her throat and dragged my tongue across her collar bone. She tasted like the sweetest dessert I had ever had. I pushed the strap of her tank top off her shoulder and brushed my hand down her arm. Her skin was as soft as silk.

“Kora.” I broke our connection and made sure her feet were firmly on the floor. I needed to get control before this went any further. She’d had a lot to drink and may need to think this through.

“Kai, don’t stop. I want you. I need you. Now. I cannot wait another second. Whatever this is between us is driving me crazy.” She stared deep into my eyes, desire blazing from hers. Her chest raised and lowered quickly.

I couldn’t believe the words that just came from her. This woman was so sexy, yet so out of my league. But God, I wanted her. “Are you sure?” I would not be the one to take advantage of a woman.

She nodded, and her mouth ticked up in a sexy-as-hell smile.

That smile sent heat right to my groin. “If at any time, you change your mind, just say the word, and I’ll stop.”

“Kai, shut the fuck up. I want you. If you want me, you can have me. You can have every fucking inch of me.” She crushed her mouth to mine in the hottest kiss of my memory.

Things went from warm to hotter than an incinerator in less than the time it took for me to scoop her up and carry her through the kitchen to the back room that was my bedroom. I laid her on the bed as gently as I could muster and watched intently as she lifted her brow and bit her bottom lip—that sexy gesture made my crotch twitch. Then she lifted her shirt over her head and tossed it across the room.

Her breasts were amazing. “Damn, girl.” My voice came out low and desperate.

She curled her finger in a come here motion. I straddled her, careful not to put my full weight on her legs, and stripped my shirt over my head, then crushed my lips to hers.

Chapter 11

Kora

I couldn’t believe this was really happening. Maybe it was the alcohol keeping me from making the smart decision and leaving, but if I was drunk, I wouldn’t be thinking of leaving. I wouldn’t be thinking of anything at all.

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