Page 70 of Branded
Just…desire.
“You gonna climb me like a tree again, little bird?” he murmured, his voice rasping over me and raising goose bumps on my skin. “Or hold silent and still again while I take care of you?”
My pulse was fluttering…much like a little bird. Because I did want to climb him like that tree, wanted to cling to the branches of his arms and to feel the rustle of his breath on my skin. I wanted to hold still, and I wanted to move.
I wanted it all.
I was learning about myself.
And him.
And myself with him.
He liked to tease and joke and banter. I wanted to be the type of person who could do that with him. I wanted to be the type of person who could do that in general.
So…practice.
With a six-foot-plus hockey player and a stuffed wombat.
Oh, my life was so hard.
Woe was me.
“No,” I said, “I think I’ve held still enough.” I smiled slyly. “Maybe I’ll make you hold still.” A grin now. “Blindfold you and pretend that Herman is a feather or—ah!” My teasing ended with a squeak, and I couldn’t even be embarrassed because Smitty had me up in his arms, my legs automatically going around his waist, my back pressed to the wall, and his front…oh good gravy, his front was pressed to mine.
I loved when we held each other like this.
Strong shoulders. Big pecs. Hard…stomach.
Another grin, but then I was wrapped up in the strength of him and it made me feel warm and secure and…very very turned on.
His breath puffed on my skin, raising goose bumps on my arms, my nape, my back.
“This going to become a thing?” he asked huskily.
My chin lifted, eyes hitting his, studying the deep brown of his irises, the dark russet and lighter oak weaving together to form something that was absolutely breathtaking.
“What? Me and you naked with Herman joining the fun?” I asked innocently.
He bent, nipped my bottom lip, and I was still processing the flash of movement, the bristle of his beard, the slight bite of pain when his mouth came down harder on mine, when he parted my mouth and slipped his tongue inside, dancing it along mine in a way that had my fingers diving into his hair, drawing him closer, tangling my tongue with his.
He kissed like fire.
And I was so beyond happy to embrace the flames.
Hell, I loved the feel of them licking down my spine, sinking into my arms, my legs, my pelvis. Burning through me, turning me to ash, reforming me into something magical and fresh and…comfortable in myself.
It was a gift.
It was the best gift that this man had given me.
He released my lips, and I sighed in pleasure, sucking in a breath when his mouth trailed along my jaw, nipping and kissing before dragging lower, tongue dipping down and in to trace along my collarbone.
“Okay, if it’s not Herman, what thing are you referring to?” I asked, still going for innocent, though my voice had gone husky. “Quality time in the locker room? Brainstorming in my office?”
His head shot up, eyes blazing. “Oh, the kissing you thing is definitely going to be a thing.” A beat. A kiss to my nose. “And the locker room thing, too, hopefully.” Another kiss to my jaw. “Definitely the brainstorming thing in your office. That’s going to be a thing—a fucking awesome thing.”
“That’s a lot of things,” I breathed.
