Page 33 of So That Happened
She knew this was a dangerous game she was playing, but something inside her had taken over. Her heart flipped. What was she getting herself into?
He moved towards her and raised his hand to tip her chin so her mouth was lined up with his own. She felt the vibration of his breath on her lips.
‘I think you’re cheating yourself, Josie. I think you want me as much as I want you.’
The truth was she was terrified she wouldn’t be able to handle the heartache that was sure to come with any sort of emotional attachment to Connor. And shewouldget attached to him. So easily. If she let herself. He’d already made her feel things she hadn’t experienced before, things she couldn’t even begin to explain.
It was decision time.
Her body gave a throb of longing, as if trying to tell her which way to go. She thought about how long it had been since she’d been attracted to someone and how few treats she’d allowed herself in the last few years. How hard she’d worked for very little return.
To hell with it. She’d let events take their course. She could handle a fling with him – she’d have to. The prospect of not having him now seemed so much worse than anything a short fling would do to her. At least she knew that was all it would be; she was going in with her eyes open. After all, she deserved some excitement in her life. She had nothing left to be afraid of. He already knew the worst of her and he was still here; that had to count for something.
‘You want this too,’ he said, his gaze raking her face, ‘Don’t you?’
‘Yes.’ She was shocked by how forcefully the word left her mouth.
‘Good. Come with me.’
Standing up, he offered her his hand and she put hers inside it, gripping him tightly in her excitement. He pulled her to stand as if he was lifting a feather. Without another word he walked quickly back to the farmhouse, towing her with him, his long strides eating up the distance so she had to take two steps to his every one.
As soon as they made it inside, he dragged her upstairs into the bedroom, slamming the door closed behind them.
Josie stood there, unsure what to do or say next, the blood pounding in her ears, her body humming with expectation. The air between them hung heavy with promise.
‘So, Josie…’
His deep voice cut through the fuzziness in her head.
‘You’re sure you can handle me?’
Taking a ragged breath, Josie drew herself up to her full height. ‘Of course I can.’
Before she registered what was happening Connor moved towards her, gently pushing her against the wall and trapping her within the cage of his body. He looked down at her, searching her face, his eyes alive with lust.
‘You sure you’ve got time for me right now?’ His voice was low and smooth and resonated through her bones.
Josie tipped her chin to look at him with as much poise as she could muster – which wasn’t much. She was in over her head here. He was the quintessential alpha male: powerful, self-contained and in control. And he knew it.
‘I think I have a window.’ Her words came out a little breathlessly, as if she’d just run a mile. His nearness was making her body react in strange ways. Her chest squeezed at her lungs, reducing their capacity and making her feel light-headed, and the space between her legs throbbed in anticipation of what was to come.
She gasped as his hand cupped her chin firmly, his thumb gently stroking against her mouth, causing it to open against the pressure of the movement.
‘Let’s see if we can’t distract that big brain of yours for a while.’
Bringing his lips down hard onto hers, he forced her mouth open, his tongue sliding firmly against hers. Stating his intent.
She let herself go and moved her mouth instinctively against his.
He was all around her, enveloping her senses. Every cell in her body wanted him closer, deeper, tighter. His hands grasped the back of her hair, holding her face to his. Escape would have been impossible. Not that she wanted that – now she’d finally surrendered to the inevitable, she wanted it all.
Snaking her arms around his back, she ran her fingers up under the hem of his T-shirt to find the taut muscles and soft skin underneath. She heard him groan as her touch traced the bumps of his spine, then ran along the dips under his shoulder blades. Connor dragged his lips away from hers and yanked the T-shirt over his head in one swift movement, dropping it onto the floor next to him.
‘Your turn,’ he said, taking a step back to watch her.
She thought she’d feel self-conscious undressing in front of him, but his approving gaze made her bold. Slowly she slipped her T-shirt off, followed by her bra, until she stood there topless, mirroring him.
His gaze ran over her face, then down her neck to her breasts, where he lingered for a moment.
