Page 50 of Bear In A Bookstore
“Jerk!”
“Sorry not sorry.”
She wiped frosting from her lower lip with her finger and slipped it into her mouth. Desi made a quiet, guttural sound. Drawn to the sound, she slowly pulled her finger from between her lips. His grip tightened over her hand. Tension spiked between them, her body heating in all the right places. Suddenly feeling shy, she pulled her hand away and moved his treat closer to him.
“Eat your cupcake.”
She sipped her coffee and eyed him as he took a big bite. How could someone look so sexy just chewing? His long, strong fingers peeled the wrapper down. He brought the cake to his perfect lips, his jaw moving slowly as he chewed. Her gaze fell to his neck and dip in the neck of his tee shirt that showed a dusting of golden chest hair. The shirt pulled over his biceps. A tingle raced down her spine at the memory of his arm around her at the waterfall today, how incredible it had felt to be held so tightly against him.
Desi had stood up for her against Jonathon Baker instead of leaving her to her own defenses. She could have handled the man herself, yes, but there was something so primally sexy in how he’d had her back. He’d been essentially looking out for her one way or another since they’d met. This was the kind of man that women fought each other for.
This is the kind of man you fell in love with.
He polished off the last bite of his cupcake and gave her a curious look. She still held her treat in her hand, untouched.
Is that what was happening? Was she falling in love with Desi Mitchell?
“What? Something wrong?”
He reached for her hand again.
“I’m ready to go home.”
After a pause, he nodded, stood, and waited for her to exit. Nerves raced through her body as she left the bakery. She was equally tense and relaxed, excited, yet subdued. Her body knew what it wanted, but her mind wasn’t on board.
This was a war she wasn’t going to win. He was going to make his way into her heart, and she was going to be helpless to stop it.
They got into his truck as the sun was beginning to set. She hadn’t realized how late it was getting. Reaching for her seatbelt, she gasped lightly as Desi grabbed her arm and pulled her toward him. Cupping her chin, he claimed her lips and kissed her until she was breathless. His mouth worked hers as if he knew exactly how to kiss her, how to flame her desire and make her crazy.
“Desi,” she whispered desperately. “The way I feel right now? I want that. I want that all the time. I want to feel normal again.”
He tipped his forehead to hers and breathed with her. “You will. I promise that you will.”
Holding her hand, he drove to her house and pulled in her drive just as darkness fell. Her outside lights popped on, creating a pretty glow as she turned to him.
“Come in.”
A lot of meaning dropped in those two words. Everything she wanted. Everything her body wanted clenched inside two syllables.
His throat moved as he swallowed. “Kora.”
His tone was filled with warning.
“Please.”
A muscle jumped in the side of his jaw. He breathed through his nose, seemingly trying to keep control. His neck muscles tensed, his fingers flexing. She’d pushed him to his limit with her invitation and oh, how she wanted to see him unleash.
She cracked her door and got out, came around to the driver’s side, and held out her hand. The intensity of his eyes startled her through the window. His door flung open. A hard shiver went over her as he got out, slammed the door, and scooped her up in his arms.
“Oh!”
She clung to his neck as he strode to her front door, input the code, and pushed it open. He kicked the door closed, swiveled to secure the lock, then glanced down at her with so much heat, so much hunger.
“Where’s your bedroom?”
Oh fuck, this was happening. Her voice shook. “Down the hall on the left.”
He paused in the doorway of her room, giving her an opportunity to change her mind but she couldn’t do that anymore than she could stop breathing. Seeking his lips, she moaned and pressed more deeply against him as he hurried to the bed. He plopped her in the middle and leaned over her on his huge arms. Kora lifted up to kiss him. She couldn’t get enough of his lips, his taste. One big hand cupped the back of her head. He moved farther on top of her, swathing her with his heat. His body was so much bigger than hers, covering her completely and she loved it.
