Page 36 of Challenged By You
The light of fire sparks in those blue eyes. She rises on her toes until her body is pressed flushed against mine. “Let’s see if you can manage to do the same,” she challenges me before she presses her mouth hotly against mine.
Her tongue immediately glides over my lips, seeking entrance to my mouth. Parting them, I meet the thrust of her tongue with my own, raising her provocation with my desire. Hunger butting up against something more.
Something I’ve never felt before.
I don’t know whose eyes drift shut first. Frankly I don’t give a damn. This isn’t the kind of battle where there’s a winner or a loser—not if care is taken with both players. We stand there wrapped in each other’s arms, pressed against that doorjamb in that tiny kitchen for God only knows how long before a small sound drags us apart.
It’s a cry of “Mama?” coming from Annie.
As Trina draws back, her teeth drag along my lower lip. “I’m being paged.” She ducks her head as she begins to turn away.
“Trina,” I growl. She whips her head up, and everything I hoped to see is waiting right there on her face. Even though her face is flushed pink, her eyes are glowing bright.
“I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll go stick my head in the freezer considering howberrydangerous you are.”
Much to my delight, she laughs before jogging away to see what’s wrong with her little girl.
Running my hands through my hair, I make my way back into the kitchen and open the freezer door. With my head inside, I contemplate the fire of that kiss. Then I recall what she said about not feeling worthy or wanted, and I ask aloud, “Are men just stupid?”
“If you ask Elle, the answer to that is yes,” Trina replies.
I bang my head on the inside freezer shelf as I jolt, hearing her voice. “Da—”
“Rnit. Shucks,” Trina emphasizes.
Ducking my head, I move out of the freezer to see Annie curled up in her mother’s arms with dried tears on her face. “What happened?” I immediately ask.
“Nono!” Annie reaches for me. I reach for her delicate weight even as I glance at her mother for permission.
Trina nods, though I doubt she could have prevented the little girl with a will like her mother’s from reaching me. “What is it, baby?” I ask once she’s settled on my forearm.
“Bad dream.”
“What happened?”
“You and chicken?” Annie whimpers.
Baffled, I shoot a look at Trina, who’s leaning against the counter studying us.
“Annie, are you telling me you woke up because you had a dream Jonas would make you eat the chicken he offered Chris?” Trina clarifies.
She nods furiously. “Nono, no chicken.” She leans forward to slap her tiny hand against the side of my face.
Taking her little hand, I press it close. “I promise. I won’t do that. I’ll taste it first or ask your mama to, okay? I’m sorry.”
I’m hoping I’m understood as Annie stares me down. Finally, she nods. “Okay. Mama, mac’n’cheese?”
Trina’s lips curve. “Of course. What else do we ever have on days when we go to the market?”
Annie starts to wiggle in my arms, the universal kid sign for wanting down. “I go play.” Toddling off, she wanders into the living room.
Trina moves closer. “Jonas, I…” Her face holds apology and hesitancy when I want to see neither.
“I knew exactly whose mouth I kissed. I don’t regret a single thing about it. Do you?” I cup the side of her face, a compromise in front of her child when all I really want to do is press my mouth against her still-swollen lips.
To my surprise, she turns her head to the side and brushes her lips against the palm. “No, but it doesn’t mean I’m not going to worry.”
