Page 87 of Stockman's Stormcloud

‘Here, I have a lint brush.’ She held it out to him.

‘Most women offer me a drink at this stage, not a lint brush.’ He removed his hat and dropped it on the side bench on its crown.

She frowned at him, wagging the lint brush at him. ‘I’m not some woman you just picked up off the street for a one-night shag.’

‘No, you’re not.’ He gripped her wrist, plucked the lint brush from her fingers and dumped it on the table. ‘I’ll give you a goodnight kiss, then leave. Deal?’

Not that she had a choice, when he pulled her into his chest.

‘Deal.’ Did she speak that, or think that?

With his hat off, his dark hair fell to shade his lashes, highlighting his eyes that were a molten chocolate. And they were utterly focused on her.

His large hands shifted from her wrists to wrap around her rib cage as if taking ownership, while his expression was downright dangerous.

‘One kiss, Sophie.’ His voice was deliciously low as he angled his head close to her ear, the warmth of his breath fanning across her throat.

Her hands went to his chest, sliding down his shirt where the glorious perfection of the muscles in his abdomen clenched under her touch. It gave her a feeling of power, of control, to know that he was reacting to her as much as she was to him.

With her chin tipping up slowly to meet his eyes, she whispered, ‘One kiss, Dex. Just one.’

It only made his eyes darken.

Bad choice.

Sophie could practically hear him thinkbad girl. And she liked it. Not that she had any control when it came to Dex, who only brought the bad side out of her. She could feel thatdarkness, thick with desire, creeping under her skin desperate to be free.

His fingertips gently feathered along the side of her neck, creating a flurry of goosebumps to pour from between her shoulder blades and down her spine.

His thumb tenderly stroked under her chin, making her face lift to bask in the heat of his gaze. Normally, she’d duck her head to hide, close her eyes, and avoid all eye contact. But right now, she’d never felt bolder.

When his warm lips descended onto hers, barely brushing them, she sighed with anticipation of them fully touching, to taste more of what she’d dreamed of so many times.

He gripped a handful of her hair, pulling her closer, and she leaned in for that kiss. A kiss she’d expected to be hot and rough, but it was surprisingly soft and gentle, yet masterful.

He was so effortlessly skilled at playfully teasing her needy body, while his tongue darted into her mouth, asking for more. His left hand snaked around her back, dragging her closer to cradle the back of her head, and she was all his. Mouth, lips, and tongue, controlled by the man gripping her hair and exploring her mouth, upping the pace as if to suffocate her—but what a way to go.

She arched her back, her breasts pressed against his chest, as her hands skimmed down his strong shoulders, down his back, to slide into the back pockets of his jeans and squeeze like she owned that arse.

That’s when he broke from their kiss to give her his most devilish grin.

‘Good night, Sophie.’ He stepped back, his dark eyes smouldering under heavy eyelids, leaving her heart hammering loudly

He wiped his mouth, shiny from her kisses, with his hair all tousled from her fingers. His shirt had pulled free from his jeans, all because of her. She’d hate to see how she looked in his eyes, with her wild hair and swollen lips.

He nodded and headed for the door.

Before he made it, she grabbed his arm. ‘Stay.’

‘But you said—’

‘I’m allowed to change my mind, especially if you keep kissing me like that.’ She was burning up so badly with a fire so wild inside, she had a feeling that the only one who could control it was Dex.

‘I’m sure I can do that.’

She backed up from the man, so much taller and stronger than her, and so sinfully beautiful. He ripped off his shirt, she had to stop to stare. She was no longer the nurse, not when she wanted the job as his new lover and could only admire his perfection. Her fingers touched the smoothness of his chest, down over his once-sore rib, to that perfect set of abs.

‘You don’t have to do this.’

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