Page 12 of All It Takes

“Well, we’re guardians to Ross. I know we’re not technically his parents, but for all intents and purposes, we are because his parents are gone.” She blinked quickly, sadness and pain flashing in her eyes. “So there’s that, and then this.”

Before I could ask whatthiswas, she leaned up, sliding a hand around the back of my neck, and pulled me down. Her mouth met mine. It literally felt as if lightning cracked through the air, loud and fiery enough to cleave a tree in half. In this case, the electricity crackled into the fire simmering on low burn inside me and it burst into flames.

I palmed her cheek and slid an arm around her waist, bringing her body flush against mine. I couldn’t hold back the growl of satisfaction in the back of my throat when I angled my head to the side and her mouth opened with a gasp. The feel of her tongue gliding against mine was heaven.

Tiffany kissed boldly. One of her hands landed on my low back, just under the hem of my T-shirt. I could feel the press of every fingertip against my skin sending sparks leaping into the bonfire burning between us.

My hand slid down to cup her bottom, that bottom I’d been thinking about since the first time we encountered each other at the shelter months ago. Even then, I had wanted her. She was so fucking sensual and sexy, carrying this earthy bold quality to her that called to me.

She rocked her hips against mine. My arousal was unmistakable. I was hot and hard, and I wanted her, all of her, right now.

Her tongue teased against mine before she abruptly broke free. We stared at each other. My palm slid from her cheek to the side of her neck where I could feel the rapid beat of her pulse just beneath my thumb. Her nipples were tight and pressed against my chest.

“Oh fuck,” she whispered.

ChapterTen

TIFFANY

Wes’s eyes held mine, dark and heavy-lidded. I was trying to breathe, trying to get my pulse to slow down. All to no avail. A distant part of my brain recognized I was seeking a distraction from the startling loss of my friend and being thrown into responsibility for her son.

Wes was the perfect distraction. I wanted him to a point of feeling near frantic. I could feel the slick arousal at the apex of my thighs and the hard ridge of his cock cradled against my low belly.

I tried to catch my breath, but my heart kept on racing. It felt like sparks were dancing across the surface of my skin. Wes studied me, and I didn’t like the prickle of uncertainty I felt inside.

Although it took every ounce of my willpower to do it, I forced myself to step back. The sound of my swallow was audible.

“What was that about?” he finally asked, his voice holding an edge of huskiness.

Dear God. All this man had to do was speak and I wanted him even more. My channel clenched and I shifted on my feet, attempting to relieve the pressure building there.

My face felt like it was on fire. “I wanted to kiss you,” I finally said, lifting my chin and holding his gaze.

I watched as he took a breath, his shoulders rising with it. He hooked a thumb in the pocket of his jeans. My gaze dropped to his forearm, muscled and dusted with dark hair. My eyes trailed down to his hand. He had strong, capable hands, the kind that could get a job done. I wanted his touch on me, on my bare skin.

“I wanted to kiss you too,” he said bluntly.

My eyes whipped up, caught instantly in the beam of his.

“Ever since we met again. When you came to the shelter with Alice,” he added.

Before I could think better of it, I was honest. “I wanted to kiss you then too.” I bit my lip, feeling abashed and wishing I could take the words back. “We can’t be stupid about this.”

“No, we can’t,” he agreed.

* * *

Somehow, I stumbled through the rest of the conversation with Wes. He insisted I take the bed in his bedroom. Ross had wanted to stay in the guest room because he said it was his, so Wes had gotten the daybed made up for him.

I had tried to argue the point, but Wes sort of glowered at me. I acquiesced because it seemed silly to do otherwise.

My sleep was restless. I couldn’t stop thinking about the feel of Wes’s body pressed close against mine. He was built, seriously built. And the way he held me was so strong with a touch of commanding, but not overbearing, not overpowering.Just so. Sometime in the darkness, I awoke, again, with the sheets tangled around me.

I was still aroused, my nipples taut peaks and slick heat at my core. I finally gave in to the need rushing through me. I was in Wes’s bed, the scent of him surrounding me—earthy with a touch of salt and crisp, like the ocean. I was certain many men smelled like the outdoors, but Wes’s scent had an appeal that called to me on an elemental level.

I’d fallen asleep in my tank top and panties. My hands coasted down over my breasts, one dipping under the elastic of my panties. I bit my lip, trying to hold back the moan that escaped when my fingers slipped into my dripping wet folds.

I must’ve dreamed about Wes. As it was, I’d gone to sleep unbearably aroused and flustered by our kiss. It was as if the kiss had only happened moments ago because my body was ready to detonate at nothing more than a touch of my own fingers. I closed my eyes, imagining his mouth on mine again and his fingers in place of my own.

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