Page 65 of Searching for Valor

“At Sawyer?”

“No.”

“Me?” Her voice was small, uncertain.

“No.” The denial was instant, vehement. He didn’t know how he knew it was the truth, but it was. He turned to face her. “I think I was angry at myself. For wanting you. For needing you.” His throat worked as he swallowed. “For not being strong enough to stay away from you.”

Her eyes widened, and her lips parted on a soft inhale, drawing his gaze right to them. “Rylan…”

He didn’t think anymore. He was so damn tired of thinking. He just wanted to feel. He leaned toward her, and for a moment, they hovered on the precipice, the air between them electric with anticipation. Then he closed the distance, capturing her lips with his own. The kiss was gentle at first, hesitant. He was afraid she might shatter or disappear or, worse, pull back and tell him she didn’t want him like he wanted her. But when Izzy’s arms wound around his neck, her fingers threading through his hair, something inside him broke loose.

He deepened the kiss, one arm snaking around her waist to pull her flush against him. She tasted of coffee and cinnamon, sweet and warm. Her lips were soft, yielding beneath his, yet there was a hunger in the way she kissed him back that matched his own desperation.

The world fell away, narrowing to just this—the press of her body against his, the softness of her lips, the warmth of her breath mingling with his own. Rylan’s hand slid up her back, fingers tangling in her hair as he angled her head to deepen the kiss. Izzy made a small, needy sound in the back of her throat that sent a jolt of electricity down his spine.

He backed her up against the porch railing, caging her in with his body. His hand slid up her back, fingers tangling in her ponytail as he angled her head to deepen the kiss. Izzy arched into him, her nails scraping lightly against his scalp, sending shivers down his spine.

Teeth nipped, tongues tangled. He poured everything he couldn’t say into the kiss—his longing, his fear, his desperate need for her. She matched him passion for passion, her body melting into his…

A sharp bark startled them apart.

Rylan blinked, dazed, as reality crashed back in. Valor stood at the bottom of the porch steps, his body tense as a Black Ram pickup truck pulled into the driveway, and Shane climbed out.

“Jesus,” Rylan muttered, running a hand through his hair. His heart pounded, desire and confusion warring inside him.

Izzy’s cheeks were flushed, her lips swollen from his kisses. She looked as stunned as he felt. “Rylan, I?—“

“Don’t.” He held up a hand, cutting her off. “Just... don’t say anything. Please.”

Hurt flashed in her eyes, but she nodded, wrapping her arms around herself.

Rylan turned away, gripping the porch railing so hard his knuckles turned white. What the hell was he doing? He couldn’t trust her. Couldn’t let her back in. It would destroy him.

But he wanted to. God help him, he wanted to so badly.

“I should go,” Izzy said quietly. She hurried down the steps and gave Valor a pat on the head before she offered Shane a weak smile and all but dove into her car.

Rylan watched Izzy’s Jeep disappear down the driveway, his chest tight with a mix of longing and regret. He scrubbed a hand over his face, trying to compose himself before facing Shane.

“Well, that was awkward,” Shane drawled as he climbed the porch steps. His scarred face twisted into a wry smile. “Didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“You didn’t interrupt anything,” Rylan muttered, even as the taste of Izzy lingered on his lips.

Shane’s eyebrows shot up. “Really? Because from where I was standing, it looked like you two were about five seconds away from ripping each other’s clothes off.”

“Fuck off, Shane.”

“Hey, I’m not judging.” Shane held up his hands in a placating gesture, then his smile widened as Valor sniffed his pant leg. “I see the mutt’s still here.”

“He’s not a mutt,” Rylan said more sharply than he intended. Valor looked up at him in concern, then trotted to his side, pressing against his leg. He stroked Valor’s floppy triangle of an ear and took a moment to temper is annoyance. “And yeah, he’s still here. For now.”

Shane nodded. “Glad to see it. Dogs are good for the soul, especially for men like us.” He studied Rylan for a long moment, his pale blue-gray eyes probing. “But I’m going to need you to take him back to the rescue for a few hours.”

Rylan’s hand tightened in Valor’s fur. The thought of giving him back—even if it was just for a few hours—sent a surprising wave of anxiety through him. “Why?”

“Because we’re going on a road trip.”

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