Page 35 of Missing

I still had a hard time imagining him as a geek.He doesn’t fit the image of a geeky tech guy. But I knew he was because I’d heard the SSI guys talk about his mad skills, their words not mine. It was one of the reasons they were interested in hiring him. The rest of the team wasn’t computer inept, but Doug was brilliant.

“It’s hard to visualize you as a geek.” I bumped my knee into his as I laughed.

“Yup, I was a total computer and gaming geek.” He didn’t move his leg.

The heat of his large, muscular thigh against mine was distracting.

I forced myself to not think about his body touching mine and asked, “When did you stop being a gamer geek?”

“I’ll let you know when it happens.” He chuckled as he stretched one long, strong arm on the couch behind me, leaning a little closer as he did.

I could feel my heart beating faster in my ears.

“You’re not awkward or skinny anymore.” I held eye contact as he reached out and brushed my cheek with his knuckles.

“No.” His grin did funny things to me.

My voice was barely above a whisper when I asked, “When did it change?”

Doug drifted closer.

I can feel his breath on my lips. I glanced down at his lips and licked mine.

“Does it matter?”

I shook my head. It did not, not one bit.

Doug lips gently brushed mine. An invitation.

I shouldn’t, not here. What if Chase wakes up?

Doug’s scruff tickled my chin as he waited.

Do I really need to worry about it?

Chase was a solid sleeper, and if he did happen to wake up he wouldn’t come downstairs. He screamed my name until I went to his room.

There’sno reason I shouldn’t kiss Doug, right here, right now.

I parted my lips just enough to release a sigh as I leaned in to return the kiss. Doug cupped the back of my head, gently holding me in place. Not that I had any intention of moving.

The kiss started soft, gentle, slow. Our tongues probing, exploring, teasing.

It’d been a long time since I’d kissed any one, and my long-dormant desire came back to life as his kisses sent a wave of shivers all the way down to my toes. I clutched his head as he gently pulled my head back and trailed kisses down my neck.

I want more.

I moaned when his tongue flicked my earlobe. He covered my mouth with his, stealing my breath as his tongue danced with mine. I shivered as his warm hand caressed my side, the promise of more making my head spin with desire.

Oh my God! Chase is upstairs.

I pulled back, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath.

When Doug opened his eyes, they were dark with desire.

“We have to stop,” I said, or more accurately panted, as I placed my hand on his chest—a wall of solid muscle over his rapidly beating heart—to create space.

He nodded, as he untangled his hand from my hair. The other he left on my leg, but slid it from my hip to my knee, leaving a trail of warmth along my thigh.

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