Page 27 of Take My Hand

She nodded and gave me a small shrug. We’d had nowhere near long enough. Three hours couldn’t possibly see me through the rest of my life. I knew I’d be craving her by the time I got on the bus, never mind the next day or the next. I knew after just three hours that Maya was the sort of woman that even a lifetime wasn’t long enough.

“Can I see you again?” I blurted out, panicking that our two minutes was almost up.

She blinked. “You live over an hour away, almost two.”

“We could meet halfway,” I offered, conscious that I sounded desperate.

She didn’t answer straight away, and my hopes rose. Then she immediately dashed them. “I know it’s not far, Will, but I’m busy with work, you’re busy with your bar and your daughter.”

“Don’t you think that after spending three hours together we owe it to all the effort that we put in so far to try?” Yep, I was pathetic.

“I’m not so sure we should if it’s been such hard work for you.” She grinned and pulled her hand from mine. “I really have to go.”

I followed her gaze over my shoulder and saw a car parked outside. When the driver waved, I turned back to see Maya had one hand up while she grabbed her jacket from the back of the chair with the other.

“I guess that’s it then.” I stood and pulled a twenty from my wallet and threw it onto the table.

“Yeah, I guess so.” She came around the table a reached up to kiss my cheek. “I had a great time. It was good getting to know you.”

“Me too,” I replied, inhaling her scent again. “Come on, I’ll walk you out.”

As we got to the exit the guy behind the counter barely looked away from the film he was watching, just managing a mumbled thanks as I opened the door. The temperature outside had dropped dramatically, and I dug my hands deep into my pockets as Maya shivered.

I should have hugged her to help stave off the cold, but touching her, even for a minute, scared me. I couldn’t become addicted to her because who knew if I’d be able to touch her again or taste the sweetness that she had to offer. So, instead, I reached in front of her and opened the back door of the Prius.

“It really has been great,” she said. “Although I can’t believe I quit girls’ night for a guy I met standing at a bar.”

“And we didn’t even have sex.”

We both started laughing, and I felt a deep regret that we hadn’t. Regret that was laced with pride that I hadn’t been that bloke for once.

“It was a great night,” she said, a cold, smooth palm cupping my cheek. “A really great night.”

“I just wish it could last longer.” I shrugged. “I guess that’s life.”

She looked up the street and then swung her gaze back to me. “You could come home with me.” She sounded tentative, scared almost.

“Is that what you really want?”

“I know three hours isn’t enough,” she replied, wrapping her arms around her body. “And I know the idea of not seeing you again is making me feel a little weird.” She rolled her eyes and sighed. “Shit, that sounds like I’m some sort of creepy person doesn’t it. I mean… I have no idea what I mean.”

My hand went to the back of her neck, and I pulled her to me. As her scent got stronger my heart gunned faster and the hand at my side tremored with anticipation. Leaning closer, my lipsbarely grazed hers as I whispered, “I understand totally. I don’t want to think about this being it.”

“But it’s ridiculous. We don’t know each other.”

“I know that you like sexy perfume and have a soft spot for Nicholas Sparks’ films. I know that you’re beautiful, and that the idea of leaving now and not seeing you again makes me want to get in that car and go home with you.”

“But?” Her lips turned into a small smile.

“But, I have Maddy to think of. She’s on a sleepover, but it’d still feel wrong not being home if she needed me.” I let out a long breath, wishing things could be different. “It’s our thing we always have breakfast at a local cafe on Sunday morning, and I don’t want to miss any until I absolutely have to.”

Maya nodded, her nose brushing against mine, and the brief contact set my pulse into overdrive. Never had I felt such a need before, andneverhad I wanted to call my little girl and put off Sunday breakfast.

“I think I need to kiss you.”

“I think I need you to kiss me,” Maya said in a breathy whisper.

Her lips were soft and pillowy, and when they parted, I thought I might fall to my knees in gratitude. Our tongues touched, and she tasted of chocolate cream. She tasted sweetandhot, and full of sin—if only we had the time. My hands moved into her hair so that I could hold her in place. Now that I was tasting her, I wasn’t letting her go easily. When she let out a little moan, I pushed her back against the car and she gripped at the front of my shirt, dragging me closer. Parting her legs, I pushed my thigh in between them and felt her thrust her hips. The hot, sexy, woman was getting herself off and I fucking loved it. It took me all my time not to flip open her jeans and do the job for her.

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