She rested her hands at his waist.
He tensed. If she pushed him away, he'd back off immediately.
But her fingers curled into his T-shirt.
He let his hand slide into the fall of hair behind her head.
He nipped her upper lip, and when she opened to him, he plundered her mouth, tasting her sweetness, the very essence of Molly.
She moved closer, or maybe he did, and he wrapped her even tighter in his arms.
He couldn't get her close enough.
And it sure seemed like she felt the same, because one of her hands snaked behind his lower back, her fingers pressing into his muscles as she clutched him close.
She hummed into his mouth, tilting her head to give him deeper access.
He took it greedily, feasting on her.
She was... everything.
He was falling in love with her.
The realization was like a physical blow, stealing his breath.
He broke the kiss, reeling, falling.
Her lashes fluttered, and she looked up at him with such adoration and trust that it was a second hit.
"Molly—"
"Don't look so scared," she said softly. She lifted one hand and brushed her thumb across his lips. Just that touch sent electric pulses through him and made him want to pull her close and forget everything else.
A flush climbed in her cheeks, already pink from the passion they'd shared.
And the last thing he wanted her to feel was embarrassed.
"I'm not scared." He was terrified of the emotions rising up in him.
Affection.
Protectiveness.
Love.
Molly watchedthe walls go up as Cord let her go. He lifted one hand and ran it through his hair, then gripped the back of his neck.
She experienced a visceral memory of his hand at her nape, his skin hot against her.
I'm not scared.He was lying. She was sure of it.
The way he'd kissed her...
The passion that had sparked between them scared her a little, too.
He'd been so insistent about not rushing things. What had happened just now that had pushed him to kiss her?
He shifted to one side, and she caught sight of the wrapping paper strewn across the sofa cushions. Oh. The photos.
