Page 43 of Sear
“Why me?” he croaked. “I mean, you could be with anyone, Malia. Anyone your own age, I mean.”
She snorted. “I don’t want someone my own age. I want a man withexperience.” Her blush was freaking adorable. In response, his cock sprang to eager life. “You’re a great kisser, Lucas, and, um, good with your hands.”
His resolve began to waver. “Thanks,” he managed. “I’m really flattered.”
She moved closer.
He knew he should take a step or two back. Put some distance between them.
But he was rooted to the spot.
“I’m so glad we cleared the air.” She hesitated, and caught her lower lip between her teeth in a way that made him ache to kiss her again. “I know you said no more dinners, but I was thinking of grilling myself a steak,” she continued, just a little too casually. “You sure you don’t want to join me?”
He opened his mouth to lie to her and tell he’d already eaten.
He needed to stay away from her. He’d promised Gage as much. And she was a cop. Being seen with her could blow his cover.
But his cougar, the sneaky cat, ambushed him. It surged up from the depths and took control. “Thanks, I’d love that,” it said, using his voice.
“Me, too.” Instead of walking past him to her cabin, she stepped even closer. The summer breeze enveloped him in her rich, delectable scent.
Then she put her hands on his chest, and he knew he’d lost the fight. “Lucas, would you—?” she began.
With a growl, his cat seized the lovely wolf-girl and covered her mouth in a deep, possessive, hungry kiss.
Mine, said the cougar triumphantly.
* * *
Oh my God. Rob was right, Malia thought, an instant before Lucas’s lips made contact.He didn’t turn me down!
His kiss was harder, fiercer, hungrier than she remembered. But just as arousing. She clung to him as his tongue invaded her mouth, promising her fantastic sex.
He smelled of pine and sage, with a faint hint of old cigarette smoke. Underneath those odors was his own personal scent, clean, healthy male human laced with the musky notes of cat and arousal.
They kissed for a long time, until her heart was pounding and a hot, aching pulse throbbed between her legs.
“Can dinner wait for a while?” she asked breathlessly when they finally parted.
Lucas stared down at her, his brown eyes turned completely gold. His cat was clearly in control, and seeing that excited her even further.
“Hell yeah,” he rasped. His fingers tightened on her shoulders, as if preventing her escape.
But she wasn’t going anywhere except inside his cabin. With him.
He swept her up in his arms with effortless strength, and carried her up the porch steps.
There, he had to put her down to find his keys and unlock the door. Malia watched him, arousal, eagerness and nervous anticipation churning through her in a heady mix.
He pushed it open at last. She saw him hesitate.
“No strings, right?” His voice had gone deep and rough. “I can’t make you any promises. Or stay. My job…my girls…they’re in Boise.”
“I know that,” she reassured him, hoping that he wasn’t about to change his mind and turn her down again. She added quickly, “It’s okay. Really. It’s just a little vacation sex.”
He stood there a moment longer, his expression troubled. The gold in his eyes abruptly vanished, showing that the man had regained control over his beast.
Her heart sank. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to handle a second rejection.
