couldn’t be right.
Neither could the way her lips were pressing closer, parting to actually invite him in of their own accord instead of clamping shut to prevent the unwanted invasions of the past.
Because this was different.
Brad may have kissed her to shut her up, but she hadn’t realized until now how desperately she’d wanted to repeat that day at the park.
There was no mistaking this for flirtation, though. This kiss was all business. And she couldn’t get enough of it.
A small sound exited her throat. Her eyelids slammed shut as the whirling emotions caught her up in a funnel cloud, sweeping her along some unknown path. He let go of her ponytail, his hands going to either side of her face, thumbs lining the hollows beneath her cheekbones.
His tongue took her up on her invitation and she tensed for a second as it slid past her lips, but despite the desperation she sensed in his kiss he didn’t hurt her. Didn’t force his way in and cut the tender insides of her mouth with his teeth.
This was exploratory. Feeling his way. Brushing along her tongue. Licking the roof of her mouth. The backs of her teeth.
Some instinct had her tightening around him, forming a channel that guided him, squeezed him. Coaxed him to stroke her.
A low groan met her ears as he did just that.
He liked it.
Brad hadn’t said a word. Hadn’t given her a blow-by-blow list of instructions on what he wanted her to do. And yet—as his hand moved to cup the back of her neck and the friction of his tongue across hers set her on fire—she knew.
Her arms wound around his neck, grateful just to let herself feel for once—not have to do something someone else wanted.
Yet somehow she was. The confusion of it all tangled up inside her, but she let it. She could try to unravel it later. But right now...
Umm...
His lips left hers and trailed along her cheek, kissing each of her eyelids. She wanted him back where he’d been. Hadn’t finished kissing him yet. But even as she lifted her head to find his mouth again, he stayed on track with whatever he was doing. Kissing the tip of her nose. Her chin. Nudging it up so he could slide beneath it.
Okay, so she could kiss him again later. Because what he was doing right now was...was...
Fantastic.
The heat of his mouth continued down her throat then roamed back up the side of it until he reached her ear. And bit it gently.
A shiver went over her, the air rushing from her lungs in an audible sigh.
She wanted him everywhere at once. As soon as he left one place, she missed him. But, then, so did the next place he visited. Until she was a squirming mass of need, her whole body crying out for more.
Her nipples tightened, and instead of recoiling at the thought of his touch they were seething with anticipation.
She moved closer, frustrated at the angles that kept her from pressing fully against him.
As if he’d read her mind, he eased her down onto the wide couch until her head sank into the softness of the overstuffed arm.
Then they were body to body, one of his legs between hers, the hard ridge against her right thigh unmistakable.
She waited for the fear to finally make its way into the pit of her stomach, but his mouth was back at her ear. Whispering this time.
“You okay?”
The words took her by surprise. Made tears spring to her eyes.
Not once had Travis ever asked her that. Not even afterwards.
She nodded, her lips touching his face, then following the same path he’d taken on hers. But before she could complete the trip, he’d captured them with his own, his hand on the side of her neck, thumb stroking her throat as he kissed her.
These kisses were more familiar. The same light brushes she’d experienced at the park.
That wasn’t enough this time. She wanted more. Wanted that same hard kiss he’d given her a few minutes ago. But when she tried to increase the pressure, he pulled back with a soft laugh. “Your husband was a fool.”
She stiffened, coming back to herself all at once. All the reasons why this was a bad idea flooded her. But when she tried to scoot away, he held her in place. She opened her eyes and found him watching her in a way that made her squirm.
He brushed a strand of hair from her forehead. “I want you, Chloe, but I don’t want you to do something you’re going to regret.”
Regret? The only thing she regretted was that she was going to have to tell him the truth. That he was the one who’d end up with a pile of regrets if this went any further, not her.
“I’m not very...” Her throat closed up, and she had to fight to get the words out. “I can’t.... I don’t want you to be...”
Disappointed.
He cupped her face. “I won’t be. Even if it goes no further than this.”
Surely that wasn’t the truth. But as she continued to look at him, she saw nothing but raw sincerity reflected back at her. How could that be? He was still hard against her leg. His breathing not quite steady. Would he really be okay if she called a halt to it right here?
Something inside her said he would.
She took a deep breath. “I want it to.”
His fingertips brushed her cheek. “You want it to what?”
“Go further than this.”
His eyes darkened. “Are you sure?”
“If you promise not to...” How could she put it into words? She didn’t honestly think he’d make fun of her afterwards, but she didn’t want him to get part way into it and then realize she was so not what he was hoping for. “I want to try. But I don’t know if I can.”
“Chloe, look at me.”
She thought she had been. But she found the center of his pupil and focused.
There was an intensity swirling inside it she hadn’t noticed before.
“The second you start to feel differently, I want you to tell me, and we’ll stop.”
She wouldn’t tell him. She never did.
His fingers tightened on her shoulder. “Promise me.”
And admit she was a failure? Again? She shook her head.
To her surprise, Brad sat up, dragging a hand through his hair and swearing softly under his breath.
She caught his hand before he could get up and walk away. “Please
