Page 38 of Sutton's Shadow

She hoped it wasn’t a premonition. She shuddered at the thought, and Wyatt’s arms tightened around her. Wyatt was another hero type. He would absolutely risk himself for her, or Bethany, or anybody, for that matter. He’d already done it a few days ago on the pier.

Sutton’s ire grew. There was no way she could let another man risk himself for her. She would not allow that dream to come true.

With reluctance, she pulled herself out of Wyatt’s embrace, needing to distance herself from the man who occupied more and more space in her mind.

“You okay now?” he asked, his eyes conveying nothing but concern. She felt a twinge of guilt at the angry thoughts she’d just had about him. He was nothing but kind. A painful twinge wrenched her heart. She wanted to bask in that kindness. Wanted to lose herself in his midnight gaze. To melt back into his embrace. But, knowing the type of man he was, she feared that could only lead to heartbreak.

“I’m fine.” She winced, knowing her words came out more tersely than she intended.

He glanced down at his watch. Sutton could tell from the lightening of the sky outside her windows it was near dawn; she was surprised she’d slept so long.

“I guess we both fell asleep. Sorry about that,” he remarked, getting to his feet.

“It’s okay. I’m sorry I fell asleep on you.”

“Don’t be. You needed to rest. Do you feel any better today?”

“Yeah, I do. Thanks for taking care of me.”

“Anytime.” He made his way to the door that led to the outside steps, and she followed. He paused in front of the door, his gaze searching hers. For what, she didn’t know. “Sutton, I don’t know what’s happening here, but I feel drawn to you.” His voice was husky and a little shaky.

His words washed over her as she closed her eyes. She didn’t understand what was happening between them either, but she couldn’t deny she was attracted to him. She thought her ability to feel had died with Liam, but here she was, with a man who was staring at her as if he wouldn’t be able to take another breath unless he could devour her.

Her throat clamped shut, and it took a few moments for the lump to slide downward, allowing her to speak. “Wyatt.” She could hear the wobble in her voice, suddenly feeling exposed, vulnerable.

Their gazes locked for a heartbeat, his midnight eyes darkening with desire as he bracketed her face between his palms. “I would really like to kiss you again,” he rasped, the sound going straight to her vagina, causing a wetness to flood her panties.

He leaned in slowly, giving her time to protest. She should stop him. She wasn’t ready for this. But the tender, almost possessive way he held her face caused a swarm of butterflies to take flight in her stomach. And suddenly, she wanted to feel those lips against her own. She wanted to sink into a kiss with Wyatt and let the world slip away. She wanted to feel again. She wanted to live again. And she knew deep down that Wyatt was just the man to breathe new life into her.

Sutton couldn’t control the helpless note that slipped from her lips as her eyes drifted shut. The puffs of his breath fell on her lips, hot and damp. His mouth met hers, scattering any further thoughts she might have had.

He moved his mouth against hers, tasting her, savoring her, and stealing the breath from her until she felt weak. She tipped her head back, caught in his spell as each decadent caress of his lips made her insides quiver. His hands held her steady as she surrendered to him, opening her mouth for his possession.

The minute his tongue met hers, her stomach plunged, as if she had just traversed the first steep drop on a rollercoaster. It was exhilarating, thrilling, and made her feel more alive than ever.

His tongue glided over hers like velvet, causing her nipples to tighten. She squeezed her legs together in a desperate attempt to ease the throbbing ache between them.

He sipped at her lips, softening the kiss as if reining in his hunger. He pulled back and raked her with a heated look that made her shiver. Still pressed up against his hard slab of a body, she marveled at how right it felt to be in his arms. Her heart beat erratically behind the wall of her chest, and her breath mingling with his in small, feverish puffs.

The smile he gave her warmed her from the inside out as he ran his fingertips across her lower lip in a soft caress. She swallowed hard, unable to look away, much less pull away from him. His magnetism held her in thrall, and she wanted—no, needed—to feel his lips on hers again.

As if reading her mind, he took her mouth once more. He pushed her hair back from her face, and his comforting hands cradled her head as he took possession of her mouth. The rough stubble on his face rubbed against her cheeks, but she didn’t care. He felt wonderful. The muscles of his shoulders tightened as she slid her hands up to them, imbuing in her a sense of power. She could leave him as devastated as he could leave her.

It was a heady feeling—one she sank into even as he ended the kiss again. “Fuck, I want nothing more than to keep tasting those delectable lips,” he ground out, his voice gravelly with need. “But I need to get to work.”

With more reluctance than she could have imagined, she dropped her hands from his shoulders. Stepping back, she kept her eyes on the floor, a twinge of embarrassment causing her discomfort. It had been a long time since she’d kissed a man. And an even longer time since she’d had a first kiss with anyone. A knot twisted in her stomach. She had never been uncertain in the past, but there was something inside her telling her not to screw this up.

He turned toward the door but stopped with his hand on the knob and hooked her around the back of her neck with the other, pulling her close. Burying his face in her neck, he inhaled deeply, as if to fill his lungs with the scent of her before he exhaled and murmured in her ear, “If you need anything, let me know.”

Her throat was so tight she could barely get any words out. “I will.” She probably wouldn’t, too used to taking care of herself, but he didn’t need to know that.

With his thumb caressing her jaw, he gazed down at her, and she could tell he doubted her words. “I mean it, Sutton. You’re not alone anymore. You have friends who care about you. Friends who won’t skip out on you to go surfing when you need them.” He winked, and a teasing grin broke out across his features.

Sutton rolled her eyes, his joshing easing the knot that was tightening in her gut. “I shouldn’t have told you about that.”

“I’m glad you did.” Then he leaned down, his lips landing on her temple, right over her beauty mark. Straightening, he opened the door. “Thanks for the Netflix binge. And thanks for not picking some cheesy vampire teenage drama,” he called as he started down the steps.

Sutton laughed, shaking her head as she closed the door behind him. She may not want to like the heroes, but she couldn’t help appreciating Wyatt for the sexy, kind, and funny man he was. She froze with her back against the door, the imprint of his lips still on her. The man could kiss. What would it be like to feel those lips in other places on her body? She forced herself to shake off the thought before her brain got her into trouble with another hero.

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