Page 27 of Damned
But his beautiful eyes. Green. They were the most gorgeous shade of green. They were Robin’s eyes. The cute dimple tucked into his left cheek, right next to the corner of his mouth was hers, too. But his lips were knife thin, not lush like a child’s, and he was smiling like only he could smile. Yes, there was always a tinge of sadness to his smiles, but that was Kruze. Half caveman, half lost boy.
Bree dropped her lashes, not knowing where this fatal attraction would lead, not sure of anything. As much as her heart craved this man, she had a three-year-old daughter to consider, a sweet child he didn’t know about. It wouldn’t be fair to break Robin’s heart if Bree were to tell Kruze about her, and if he denied she was his. If he didn’t want her. A mother’s job was to protect her child from everything, including that child’s father.
Bree didn’t dare ask if he liked children in general. He’d think she was hinting at marriage, which she would never. There seemed no easy way around the problem she’d created. Let him go, never to know his daughter? Was she that heartless? Bree honestly didn’t know what she was capable of anymore. But to take a chance that might lead to heartbreak for Robin? Never.
“Kiss me,” she breathed, going for distraction.
No sooner said, than done. Growling, Kruze leaned into her face and pressed his lips to hers. But where she’d expected him to be rough and intimately invasive, this kiss was tender and chaste. His hands cupped her jaw carefully, as if he were afraid of scaring her. Despite the throaty growl, his lips were soft. Questing, not demanding. His breathing hitched higher and shorter, yet he didn’t breach the barrier she’d set. Until she licked him. That elicited the manly groan she was after. When he tipped her head to one side, all bets were off. Kruze took her mouth by storm, tonguing her lips and teeth, the inside of her cheeks. He nipped his way inside, licking as he went, his tongue tangling with hers. There was no holding back now.
Bree wound one arm around that handsome neck, raked one hand into his hair, stretched her leg over his thighs. Her skirt pushed up to her waist when she straddled him. She knew she’d lost her mind, but she no longer cared. She needed this man.
Still kissing her, Kruze took hold of her hips and arched his back, rubbing his length against her core. So good. Bree exploded with slippery, wet heat. They were both wearing too many clothes! It was hard to think, much less plan what to do next. How to get him undressed. How to get him inside her body. How to make him stay.
She grabbed his belt, intent on whipping it off. But the second she unlatched his buckle and fingered the first of so many buttons instead of one lousy zipper on his pants—! Kruze took hold of her fumbling fingers and brought everything to a halt. “Whoa. Slow down, sugar.”
“Why?” she shot back at him, twisting her arm to get free of his grip. “You want this, don’t you? You want me, I know you do.”
He tipped his forehead into hers. “I want you more than I can tell, but not here and not like this. We’re in a public parking lot. Sweetheart, for Christ’s sake, what’s wrong?”
“Everything! Nothing! I’m just sick and tired, that’s all. It’s been a really long day. I need you. Now!” she snapped, her heart pounding dangerously loud again, warning her to calm down. Like that was easy? “Take your pants off, Kruze! Is this so wrong?”
His hands slipped up her sides until he took hold of her trembling head. Lord, that monster headache was back, crashing inside her skull. Bree closed her eyes at his gentleness. She needed a higher dose of her heart meds!
Kruze forced her chin up with his thumbs. “No, ma’am, having sex with a beautiful woman is not wrong at all,” he breathed, his voice so damned sweet and gentle despite her bitchiness. They’d switched places. He was the calm one; she was the hardass. Bree wanted to cry.
“Neither is there anything wrong with you wanting me or me wanting you,” he continued softly. “But that’s not what’s going on here tonight, is it, sugar? I scared you before. I know I did. You were nearly hysterical when I showed up beside your car. You were already upset. Is it stage fright? Are you one of the speakers tonight?”
She could have sworn those beautiful green eyes were seeing into her soul. Past her defenses and lies. Straight to the lies in her mixed-up heart. “Areyoua speaker?” she scoffed to throw him off track.
“Yeah, I kind of am. Wayne’s a good buddy. I told him I’d help with the turnout tonight and…” Kruze shrugged those massive shoulders. “Here I am.”
Well, damn. He was part of this dog and pony show. The wrong part. He came here to talk to everyone, not just to see her. She was just one of many, just part of the crowd to him. Nothing special.
Bree deflated like a three-day-old party balloon.
