Page 31 of Heart of a Hero

With a smile still on his face, he lowered his head again and sealed his mouth over hers. Just like the first time their lips met, he now knew it wasn’t a fluke. He felt the jolt move through his body, and every fiber of his being called out for him to continue holding this woman in his arms.

Ignoring the chilly breeze that swept around them, they created their own heat. Their heads moved back and forth in a messy tangle of lips, tongue, and teeth. He swallowed every groan she emitted.

He was barely aware of her hands, latched tightly around his neck until she once again dragged her short fingernails over his skin. He felt a shiver run down his spine and knew it had nothing to do with the cool air. Instead, his body responded to every movement.

Finally, he lifted his head, dragging air into his lungs, barely aware she was doing the same. He rested his forehead against hers, and they stood without speaking until both could breathe without panting. He could not remember the last time he’d been so moved by a kiss—certainly not in years.

“Wow,” Karen breathed, and her sweet breath wafted over his cheeks.

Lifting his forehead away from hers, he held her gaze and noticed her swollen lips and warm eyes. It was evident she wasas affected by the kiss as he was. Not slowly, his lips curved. “Yeah, wow.”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had a kiss like that,” she confessed.

“I was just thinking the same thing.”

She shivered in his arms, and he pulled her closer. “I hate like hell for this evening to end, but I know you’re cold and need to get back to the girls.”

A little sigh slipped out. “You’re right, I do. But you’re also right that I really hate for this evening to end. It’s been lovely.”

He lifted a brow and grinned. “Lovely?”

Laughing, she nodded. “Lovely. Enjoyable. Fun. And sexy as hell!”

“I’d say that about covers it.” He kept one arm wrapped around her shoulders as they walked back down the pier. They moved from the deeper shadows to where the illumination of the streetlight cast a warm glow over them. He assisted her into his SUV, jogged around the front, and climbed behind the wheel.

Mimicking their earlier behavior, he reached over and laid his hand, palm up in the middle. Without hesitation, she placed her palm against his, and their fingers entwined.

It didn’t take long for them to get to her house, but he slowed and parked before they got to her driveway. She looked at him with a lowered brow as he turned toward her, showing her confusion.

“I’m going to walk you to the door, and I’m gonna kiss you there. But considering your girls might be peeking out the window, I wanted to make sure all they saw was me being a complete gentleman.”

A chuckle moved through her, and she said, “Youarea gentleman.”

“I’m afraid my thoughts right now are not very gentlemanly.”

Her smile beamed as she leaned closer. “I’d love to hear your ungentlemanly thoughts.”

“Now is probably not the right time. But perhaps if you grant me the honor of a second date?”

“Absolutely. In fact, if you didn’t want a second date, I think I’d be devastated.”

He leaned toward her, and their lips sealed again, his tongue moving through her mouth, letting the sensations run along every nerve ending in his body. Finally, with a reluctance that tugged at him, Mark pulled back. Karen’s lips were swollen from their kiss, her breath slightly ragged, and her half-hooded eyes mirrored the same need he felt coursing through his veins. The sight of her, with that soft, dazed expression, sent a thrill through him, igniting a craving to see that look on her face again and again. He knew he’d do anything to make it happen.

With a quiet sigh, he restarted the engine and pulled into her driveway, the soft rumble of the SUV filling the silence between them. As he parked near the front of her house, the warmth of their connection hadn’t faded. Arms wrapped around each other, they walked toward the front door. Their steps were in sync, as though their bodies had already grown accustomed to being this close.

As they stood on the covered stoop, the glow from the porch light cast soft shadows around them, and Mark tugged her into a tight embrace. Her cheek pressed against his chest, her body fitting perfectly against his. The way they molded together so effortlessly filled him with a quiet sense of wonder—a feeling he hadn’t experienced in what felt like ages. It was as if they had always belonged like this, close, connected.

Mark rested his chin on the top of her head, inhaling the soft scent of her hair now with comfortable familiarity. They stood in silence for a moment, the night around them peaceful and still. He wanted to hold on to this moment forever, but all too soon,Karen shifted in his arms, leaning back to look up at him, her eyes glinting with something soft and inviting.

He didn’t hesitate. Lowering his head, he captured her lips in a sweet, lingering good night kiss. It wasn’t rushed or heated, but it held the promise of more—of what could be.

As they slowly parted, Karen pulled her key from her bag and unlocked the door, the soft click of the lock breaking the silence. She turned back to him, her smile warm and teasing, her eyes sparkling in the dim light. “Thank you, Mark. That was the best first date I’ve had since… well, I think you know,” she whispered, her voice low.

He nodded. “The same for me. I’ll call you tomorrow, but are you free next weekend for the official second date?—”

“Yes,” she hurriedly answered.

Still grinning, he said, “Benji has a sleepover for a friend’s birthday on Saturday night. My dad was already planning on visiting some old buddies from his Navy days in Norfolk and was going to spend the night there. I’ll make dinner?”

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