Page 25 of A Fighter’s Love

“That’s both wise and true.” He stepped a little closer.

The light behind him rendered his face in shadows and his body heat radiated onto her. Jenny studied his lips. They were slightly parted, the bottom plumper than the top. He had a sexy sprinkle of blond stubble over his chin and jawline.

A sudden urge to kiss him came over her. When had she last kissed or been kissed? Felt a man’s lips on hers?

Her belly tightened, a pleasant tugging sensation pulled at her internal muscles and her nipples hardened. He was staring down at her, his pupils wide.

A sudden rush of desire came over her. A sense of throwing caution to the wind. A new her. She wanted to kiss Dale, and from the way he was looking at her, his breaths shallow, leaning lower, lower still…

She lifted onto her tiptoes and pressed her mouth over his. His lips were soft and warm and he opened them a little more as she increased the pressure.

She closed her eyes and gripped his t-shirt, pulling him closer still.

Suddenly he took possession of the kiss, stroking his tongue into her mouth and slipping his arms around her waist. He pulled her nearer, aligning her body with his.

She whimpered, pleasure darting through her. Sliding her hands around his neck, she locked them and squeezed in tighter.

He lifted her upward. It was as if she weighed nothing to him. He stepped forward, scooping his hands beneath her buttocks and encouraging her to wrap her legs around his waist.

Jenny’s mind was rushing along in overdrive, her heart clattering against her ribcage. She was kissing Dale, sexy gorgeous out-of-her-league Dale. And he was kissing her back with enthusiasm. Hell, it seemed as if he were intending on taking it much further.

Her back hit the wall. A picture frame shifted on its hook.

An image of Jackson flashed through her mind—Dale with Jackson, kissing him this way. Damn it, she was so lucky to be experiencing it.

Dale left her mouth and kissed over her cheek. He was breathing hard, his chest pressed into hers and his groin lodged between her open legs. Through their clothing his erection strained against her. “Fuck, I want you,” he said gruffly.

“I want you too.”

“Ever since I first saw you. I knew you were different.” His voice was low and sexy. “Had to have you.”

“I didn’t think you’d ever, I mean.” She stroked over his wide shoulders and gripped his biceps. “That you…”

“What? That I’d what…” He pulled back a little and looked at her.

“That you’d ever be interested in me.”

“Honey, I’m interested.” He grinned and ground his cock up against her. “Can’t you tell?”

She groaned, loving the pressure on her clitoris. But damn the man was big. She hoped he’d be gentle with her. “Yes. And I’m glad but…” Again Jackson’s face flashed before her.

“There’s a but? At a time like this? Jesus, honey.”

“But what about Jackson?”

The words were barely out of her mouth when she realized she’d made a mistake. A huge mistake. The softness in Dale’s eyes evaporated. His facial muscles tensed and he pulled away. “Jackson?”

“Yes…I’m sorry…I thought.” She shook her head. “I must have got it wrong about the two of you.”

Dale took hold of her arms and drew them down.

She relaxed her legs and set her feet on the floor. But the rest of her body didn’t feel relaxed. She was high on adrenaline even though a sense of doom was crawling over her skin.

“Exactly what did you think about the two of us?” His eyes narrowed and a tendon twitched in his cheek.

“I thought, I thought you were an item. Together.”

Silence.

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