Page 62 of The Sinner's Touch

“But all that mechanical and plastic shit enhances the experience,” Angel countered, her eyes twinkling.

Kade saw the girl he’d fallen for and knew he had a chance. She wouldn’t be sitting here teasing him if she hated him as much as she claimed. Maybe their conversation last night had broken down some walls she wasn’t aware were gone. Or maybe his charm was getting to her. Either way, he’d take it.

He inched closer until his knees bumped hers, and she went still. He saw her eyes shoot to where they were touching then widen in alarm. But he also saw the barest spark of desire kindling to life in those green depths.

“What the hell are you doing, Kincaid?”

He watched her breathing quicken ever so slightly, her tongue dart out to wet her lips. She leaned as far back as the headboard would allow, but it only served to thrust her breasts higher, and her nipples hardened. She wasn’t wearing a bra, only a thin t-shirt.

“Kade…don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?” He heard the change of tone in his voice and let that lazy smile she used to love turn up his lips.

“What happened to staying far away from bone-jumping distance?”

He leaned closer until there were just a few inches between them. Her eyes were wild, and he saw the shock, the fear, the desire all swirling around. She was afraid of getting too close, stunned he’d snuck up on her, but she wanted him.

Angel didn’t know if she wanted to run or if she wanted to close the distance between them. Confusion wracked her. What should she do?

His hand snaked out, and he pressed it against her chest, right where her heart rested.

“You want me, Angel. You know you do.”

She shook her head, unable to speak. His hand felt like a white-hot iron against her.

“Your breathing is heavy, your heartbeat is wild, and your eyes are all sleepy,moye serdtse. You can lie to yourself all you want, but your body doesn’t lie. You want me to kiss you. You want my hands on your skin. You want my mouth on those nipples of yours already standing up and begging for the hot, moist heat of my lips. You want my fingers stroking you.”

Angel dragged in a ragged breath, the images his words inspired assaulting her. His voice had gone all gravelly, and his eyes burned with a heat she craved. What should she do?

He pushed closer, his lips nibbling along her jawline. The scrape of his stubble scratched at her as heat began to pool in her belly. His other hand slid up her arm then back down, the movement gentle and feather light. Her breathing became more labored. The hand on her chest shifted so it cupped her breast, his fingers tugging at the already hardened nipple. A ripple of desire shook her.

Angel knew this was a bad idea, knew she should push him away, but the moan that slipped out of her laughed at common sense. This man had always been able to make her ignore her better judgement.

Kade feathered kisses down her neck, pulling her t-shirt aside so his mouth could trail kisses along the exposed skin. The whimper that sounded in his ear had his other hand sliding under her shirt and caressing the heated skin of her belly.

“Kade.”

He ignored the husky sound of her voice. She wanted him. That was all he needed to know. Despite his own body’s protest, he pulled back and placed his hand on her heart again. The rapid beating was the sweetest music he’d ever heard. She looked up, confused, the growing lust making her eyes sleepy, and he reminded himself he needed to take this slow.

“Kade?” Angel frowned at the devilment dancing in his eyes. What was he up to?

Kade pulled his hand away from her heart and jumped off the bed. He stood there grinning like an idiot.

What the hell?

He leaned down and kissed the end of her nose. “You can jump me whenever you want, Angel, but I’m not touching you until you decide to touch me.”

She watched as he strolled out of the room, leaving her in a mess of want and need.

Bastard.

He’d put the ball squarely in her court. Now what the hell was she going to do?

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Kade loved shopping. How had she forgotten that? This was the fifth store he’d dragged her to. Retail therapy. Here he was, taking his sweet time, examining every little thing, when she was going out of her mind, watching every face in the crowd, seeing the serial killer hiding in corners, just waiting to snatch her. How was Kade so calm?

“I think we have enough.” She gripped the handle of the shopping cart so tightly her knuckles were white. “We need to be back before they deliver the tree.”