Page 164 of Sin With Me

“Being your girlfriend?”

“Yes. I mean, we’ve been on a date, and sealed it with a kiss and a delicious eat-out session. As much as you’d like to deny it, I know you feel something for me, and I definitely want us to have a chance. There’s nothing really standing in our way.” With his arms around me and mine around him, we swayed from side to side. I felt him grow hard against my belly, and listening to him describe his ambush on me just minutes ago revived my craving forhim.

“Nothing except that I’m working on yourcase.”

“You’re afraid of what your brothers would say ofthis?”

“I don’t fear my brothers, but I do take my job seriously, Eric. I want to find Huntz for you. I want your family to heal. Nothing would give me more pleasure thanthat.”

“I beg to differ.” The sly look on his face made me pause as I thought about the kinds of pleasure he could give me. Was it possible that it could be better than what he’d done to me back by thebarn?

“So you’re basically saying that I can’t kiss you like this anymore?”

And with those words he lifted his hands to my face, cupping it, and lowered his mouth to mine, taking my breath away, stealing the smart words I’d wanted to say right out of me. He tilted my head for that perfect angle and I opened myself to him. My hands weaved up his back, feeling those hard muscles tense under my palms. Eric’s mouth hardened as he lowered his hands, wrapping them around me and pulling me as close as possible.

I heard myself moan into his mouth, so desperate for the kind of kiss I hadn’t had in years, and Eric slid his tongue deeper, devouring me, tasting me as if it was for the first and last time. I couldn’t imagine pulling away. And I didn’t want it to be the last time he kissed me. I wanted this to last forever because no one had ever kissed me with such passion and devotion. Not even David.

At the thought of him I pulled away, steppingback.

“What is it, Emma?”

I shook myhead.

“It’s just that I haven’t let myself feel this way in a longtime.”

“What do you feel, Emma?”

“I don’t know. I’m confused when you kiss me like that. Like I’m the only one in the world.”

“That’s because you are. I’m sorry if I’m moving too fast. I know this is complicated with me hiring you and all, but this, Emma” – he pointed between the two of us – “feels so right. I haven’t felt like this either – ever. We click. And I will do everything in my power to give us a fair chance.”

I understood exactly what he was saying. I wanted to give us a try as well, but I was afraid it would cloud my thinking, and when dealing with Huntz I needed my wits about me. I had to have a clear head on this case, and around Eric I found myself filled with lust and longing so deep that it was beginning to affect my decisions. Was there any way I could make this work? Concentrate on both the case and Eric? After all, my brothers always said that multitasking was one of my greatest skills.

“I’mjust…”

“Scared?” he asked. “There’s nothing wrong with being afraid, Emma. Especially since in your line of work you don’t allow yourself to be. But you have nothing to fear withme.”

Eric took my hand and lifted it to his heart, pressing it there gently. I felt the beating of his heart and the warmth of his skin penetrate the fabric. “I will never hurt you. I promise.”

“Someone promised that once tome.”

“David?”

“And hedied.”

“I’m sorry, Emma…”

“It’s all right. I guess I’m still healing. I couldn’t talk about it for a long time, you know. I locked myself up and lost myself in my work, and when I tried to move on, I couldn’t. None of the men I dated evoked that feeling I was looking for. But with you, the moment I saw you, I knew that you were different.”

“How?”

“I don’tknow.”

“So what you’re saying is, you’ll give this Cowboy atry?”

I smiled. “I guess Iwill.”

He smacked his lips to mine and lifted me up in the air, twirling around. “Good, because I want to try all ofyou.”

---