Page 41 of Don't You Want Me, Baby?

‘If you’re not sure,’ his breath was hot on her cheek. ‘I’ve obviously not been clear enough. Let me give you a clue.’

His lips touched hers, a chaste kiss, but that was all it took to send tingles throughout her body. His hand, still resting on hers, turned and claimed her touch with his. When he squeezed his fingers around her, brushing his lips against hers, she was lost in the feel of him. Fingers stroked down her cheek. He shifted,tentatively pulling her closer with his other arm, until he was holding her close to him. His lips were on an expedition, going where they had never gone before as they parted hers. She moaned, and he let out a little growl of approval in response. They’d kissed before, odd pecks on the cheek, one quick New Year’s kiss the year before she’d met Sloane. His little kisses to her forehead that seared her skin. All very PG. This was not that. It was so much the opposite of that that it needed its own time zone, let alone a different postcode. This kiss felt like nothing before it, and her racing mind doubted she’d encounter it again. His arm around her, his fingers in her hair. His tongue teased hers and she heard his low, guttural moan again. Heard it over her own.

‘Ty,’ she breathed when she managed to get enough brain capacity to move her body away from what she was enjoying far too much. His lips found hers again, as if he couldn’t bear to break the contact. He moved closer, until she pulled away a second time. ‘Ty…’

His eyes opened, widening when they saw her face. She knew her expression was all shock and swollen lips. She didn’t need a mirror to know that. ‘Er…’ He pulled back, running his hand down his jaw. ‘Shit.’

‘Yeah. Shit.’That was amazing. I knew it would be. And now I’m utterly screwed.

‘I didn’t mean to do that. I’m sorry.’

Ouch.She didn’t expect that to hurt, but it did. A little barbed arrow to the heart she didn’t expect. She didn’t mean to do it either, but she could still taste him on her lips. He still had his arm around her waist.

‘No. Me either,’ she muttered, turning to rest her back on the sofa cushions. He mirrored her, and the heat from his touch lingered on her body. Made her shiver, but she wasn’t sure that was entirely down to the sudden temperature shift. Her whole frickingbody was screaming the answer to his question.More. More. More.She wanted to pull him back to her, tell him she didn’t see him coming. He’d been there, but she’d never seen him. Not fully. Appreciated him. Fantasised maybe. But this? Bradley Sloane was a warty toad compared to this. A frog compared to a God-damn hunky, caring prince. His hands in her hair, his hold around her. Geez, a girl could camp in there and never want to leave. ‘Listen, Ty. You don’t have to?—’

‘I did mean to.’ He cut her off with his deep, husky proclamation. ‘I lied then. I did mean to kiss you. In fact, I didn’t want it to stop. I’ve wanted to ask you that question every day since you told me you thought about me. Fuck. Even before that.’

He didn’t turn to her. His hands were now on his legs. She could see the tension in his jawline as he stared straight ahead.

‘Look at me,’ she asked.

‘I can’t.’

‘Ty…’

‘I can’t look at you without doing that again.’

Oh. Ooohh.Something else zinged along her spine. Excitement, mixed with want and shock.

‘I can’t do that again.’

‘Right,’ she agreed. Her voice sounded odd even to her own ears. ‘No.’

‘You have a lot on. I’m leaving soon.’ A hollow laugh tore out of him. ‘God, our timing fucking sucks.’ He reached for his glass, draining the rest of it. ‘I should go.’

I don’t want you to go. Stay.Everything in her should be panicking, feeling guilty, but it wasn’t there. That kiss had answered far more questions than his, and she didn’t know how to marry up the information. She didn’t tell him that, though. She closed the album that had fallen to the floor, sticking in on the sofa cushion behind her. ‘Okay,’ she got to her feet. The alcohol was burning off in herbloodstream. Adrenaline and pure lust devouring it like a super-fuel. ‘I’ll see you out.’

It was agony waiting for him to put his shoes on. His fingers looked as though they were shaking. He was concentrating on his shoelaces as if he was safety checking a parachute. She lingered nearby, not too close. Not close enough to touch him. She didn’t know what her body would do if that happened. They got to the back door, and she watched him reach for his jacket from the coat rack on the wall.

‘Why don’t you wait ’til I get you a taxi?’

He faced her with a shake of his head. ‘It’s okay. I’ll walk to the rank. I could use the fresh air.’ He ran a hand through his hair with a deep, resigned sigh. ‘Listen. Amber, I?—’

‘It’s okay, don’t worry. It was a mistake?—’

‘Don’t say that.’ His tone was as determined as his voice was deep. ‘I don’t regret it.’

‘You don’t?’

He was already shaking his head. At some stage, they’d moved closer. Her socked foot touched against his shoes as she looked up at him.

‘No. God no. I know you want this life, this baby.’

She didn’t answer.

His index finger came to rest under her chin, tilting her face up to his. ‘That kiss wasn’t a mistake.’

‘No, but?—’

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