Page 48 of Wandering Souls

A hand flattened against her back and pulled her closer until there was full body contact between them. Ray’s lean, hard muscles excited her and she threw an arm around his neck. Opening her mouth to him, she breathed deeply when his tongue crossed the threshold to tangle with hers.

Tasting him and feeling the heat of his breath on her cheek spiked her heartrate. Adrenaline pulsed through her body, waking long-dormant parts that hadn’t felt the attention of a man in too long. Ray slowed the kiss until he took her bottom lip between his teeth and tugged playfully. A smile lifted the corners of his mouth as his eyebrows danced high on his forehead.

“Wow,” he whispered, kissing the end of her nose.

Abi took a deep breath. His scent overwhelmed her in the best way possible. “Agreed.”

His fingertips trailed over her forehead and down her cheek. Emotions swirled in his dark green eyes as he took her in. “I haven’t overstepped, have I?”

She responded only by tugging her hand from between them to wrap it around his neck. If plastering herself to him didn’t scream that she wanted more, then what was a girl to do?

Ray licked his lips, drawing her attention. She swallowed to clear her throat. “Nope.”

“You’ve been on my mind all day. I couldn’t wait for my shift to end.”

~

The light in her eyestwinkled at him and he tried to commit every detail of the moment to memory. Her eye lashes were long and blond, just like her hair. Her pale skin almost glowed in the low, evening light. High cheekbones framed a delicate face and her thin nose wasn’t entirely straight.

From her arms around his neck to the feel of her feminine curves smashed up against his chest, he didn’t want to miss a thing. Especially not the way her lips felt under his or the heat of her mouth.

He hadn’t meant to open their dinner date with a kiss. If anything, he’d hoped to end their night with one, but when she stepped into his space and pressed her hand to his chest, he was a goner. Instinct took over and he was glad it had. Too soon and she’d be gone, jetting off to her Army base and leaving him alone but, he’d needed to know if the chemistry between them was mutual.

He’d half-expected to be friend-zoned. Her reaction was anything but. If it got his heart broken, so be it. Life was too short to be left wonderingwhat if.

“Still hungry?” he asked when his stomach growled.

The flash in her eyes held so much promise. “Definitely.”

Reluctantly, he let her go, setting her back on her feet with care. The rapidly cooling night seeped through his jacket and he reached to pick up the paper takeout bags. Abi’s hand touched his arm, stopping him.

“It’s too cold out here,” he protested. “And getting colder by the minute. I don’t want you to catch a chill.”

Her gentle smile warmed his heart. “I’ve been cooped up inside all day. The fresh air will do us both good. Besides.” She reached down to scratch Bruce behind the ears. “It’s a nice night. The stars are twinkling and the moon is rising. We could be lucky and see a shooting star.”

Her argument convinced him to stay though he decided he’d usher them inside the instant she seemed cold. They sat on the wicker chairs either side of the small round table, Bruce making himself comfortable at her feet. Ray opened the paper bag and pulled out the small carton of lemon chicken and the larger one of fried rice. At the bottom of the bag, two pairs of wood chopsticks lay in their paper wrapper, mocking him. Ray sighed.

“Can I at least go get a fork?”

“Why?” She pulled the paper bag to her and peered inside. “Oh, come on, Ray.” Putting a hand in, she pulled out the wooden utensils. “You don’t like chopsticks?”

She slid one set out of its wrapper and split them apart like a pro. Taking them in hand, she opened the carton and lifted out a piece of crispy fried chicken and held it toward his mouth. He still wanted a fork, unless she planned to feed him his dinner.

That thought made his scalp tingle.

Ray opened his mouth and took the food on offer, chewing as she opened the fried rice. Holding it up to her mouth, she shoveled a couple loads into her mouth and smiled.

“You make that look easy.”

She lifted a shoulder in a half-shrug but didn’t respond.

“Let me guess. Friday night takeout was always Chinese?”

With a shake, she held the carton toward him and fed him some rice. “No. When I was little, my mum took me all over the world. Every school holiday was spent in a different country. She loved China and had a very dear aunt there. We spent at least two weeks a year there.”

He glanced at the food on offer. “Not exactly authentic, is it?”

She chuckled and ate more rice. “Australian-Chinese takeout is the best, but while I’m here, remind me to cook you up a stirfry.”

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