Page 20 of The Marrying Kind
I let the story trail off because I wasn’t about to recount the nitty-gritty of it to a woman I hoped would be falling for me any minute.
“You want some cocoa?” I asked suddenly, desperate for a change of subject. Ella was rubbing her toes on the top of my foot, and my swim trunks was doing their very best impression of a tent.
When she nodded, I reached back for the thermos, pouring out the dark liquid into the little cup and handing it to her. She took a sip and made a pleased sound that went straight to my chest. This was torture.
If this were a different time in my life, I’d already have her legs wrapped around my waist ... but that wasn’t the goal. I’d have won the battle and lost the war.
Ella passed me back the cup and stared down at the water. “I was just thinking tonight has been pretty magical ... romantic, even. What if you and I ... if we ... I mean, only if you were interested ... we could ...”
Was she trying to ask me for sex? In the cutest, and most awkward way possible?
Before I could let myself think too long about it, because that would be a bad idea, I found myself blurting out a reply. “Ella, it’s not that I don’t want to nail you into next Tuesday. It’s just that ... well, at this point in my life, I’m playing for keeps.”
Her brow creased, her expression turning serious as her toes paused their gentle rubbing over my foot. “What are you saying? I’m a big girl. I can take it.”
“If we, pardon my French,fuck, you’ll probably end up falling in love with me and wanting to stay. And marry me and have my babies. It’ll become a whole thing.” I slapped a cocky grin on my face.
Speak it into existence. Plant the idea. What else could I say?
She laughed, a cynical look taking over her face. “Oh, you think so, huh?”
I decided to double down. “Absolutely. And since you’re so set on having your big adventure where you tame bulls and bungee jump over volcanos ... I’m thinking it’s safer if we don’t.”
She pursed her lips at my cheeky response. “Is that your way of trying to turn me down gently?”
“I’m just trying to be a good guy here, princess. I’m not really into the casual-sex thing anymore. I guess I’ve outgrown it. I’m looking to settle down, and since you’re ...not, I just think it’s better this way.”
She shrugged. “Okay, you’re probably right. It’s too bad, because I’m guessing we could have had some fun together.”
“I’m sure we could.”
Her hands moved to her neck ... or more specifically to the strings holding her bikini top in place, which made my heart rate skyrocket. “So, even if I were to do this ... you wouldn’t be tempted?”
My entire body tightened.
“I didn’t say I wasn’t tempted. You are a beautiful woman. And I’m a man ... a man who hasn’t enjoyed the company of a woman in a very long time ...”
Shit. There was no way I was going to resist if she really tugged those strings loose. Surely, she wouldn’t, right? Then again, this woman had a lot bolder things planned for herself than taking her top off. Hell in a handbasket.
Ella met my gaze with a sultry expression, causing my mouth to go completely dry. Then she tugged on one of the strings. I watched like a hawk zeroing in on a fieldmouse, my eyes laser focused. She pulled the other string then, and I swallowed hard, wetting my lips in anticipation.
Finally, she pulled the two strings apart and the top dropped free.
Oh. My. Wow.
Perfect was too tame a word.
Ella was stunning, but Ella topless? Completely irresistible.
She flashed me a mischievous smile, and I was a goner. When I reached for her, Ella came willingly and settled herself directly in my lap. Her lush breasts brushed against my chest, and that simple contact felt so freaking good, my body went hard all over.
I slid one hand into the hair at the back of her neck and drew her in close. Then I just ... waited.
I loved this moment, the few breathless seconds before a first kiss. The tension in the air. The anticipation. The desire coursing through my veins. I was sure Ella could feel exactly how much I wanted her.
Finally, our mouths met briefly.
Her lips were soft. Damp. Trembling. They parted for me, and I couldn’t help myself. Because kissing Ella? It was even better than I could have anticipated.
