“Um.”
Luch’s lips quirked. “Why have I annoyed you?”
I crossed to the kitchen and put the empty tape roll in the bin under the sink. Straightening, I turned and almost bumped into Luch’s chest.
“Oh, jeez. Hey.”
“Why have I annoyed you?” Luch repeated and lifted my chin with his finger, and I pursed my lips, now annoyed both with himandmyself forbeingannoyed.
“Because I was debating how to thank you and taking you to dinner was one of the ways.”
“Ah.” A grin spread across Luch’s handsome face, and my skin flushed. “And what was one of the other ways?”
I shrugged and looked away.
His laughter made desire curl through my body.
“Can I take a guess?” Luch prodded.
“Nope.” I was not about to say that I was dying for a kiss. I’d boxed myself in and had to live with the consequences of my choices.
“Was this one of them?”
I looked back at him in time to see him lean in, and then his lips were on mine. He ranged himself over me, his hands on either side of me on the counter, and I felt like I was being shown the way home. Cocooned. Sheltered. He was just so big and broad-shouldered and even though it should feel like he was looming over me, instead it just made me feel protected.
Like I was his, and his alone.
His kisses tasted of the mints I’d seen him pop periodically through the day, fresh and sweet, and heat raced through me as he licked into my mouth. I met him, taste for taste, as he feasted on my lips.
“Have I told you how much I enjoy kissing you?” Luch said, surprising me when he picked me up and placed me on the counter, moving to stand between my legs. Bloody hell, but the man was sexy. It shouldn’t have been such a hot move, the way he effortlessly lifted me—no one has ever done that to me before—and yet I couldn’t help but respond to something so basic.
And yes, the muscles in his arms flexed when he picked me up.
How did I know?
Because I was hanging on to him like a barnacle clinging to a ship, my legs wrapped around his waist, my arms now twined over his shoulders. I threaded my hands in his hair, needing more.
“You haven’t mentioned it, no. But feel free to conduct your own study.”
Luch laughed, his teeth flashing white in his face.
“Are you still collecting your data points? For your study?”
“Absolutely. I’m certain I’ll need a much larger data set before I can make a ruling on your kisses.”
“It’s certainly best to be thorough in your research.” Luch laughed into my mouth when I moaned and rocked against him. I swear I didn’t even know who I was with this man. I’d gone so long without dating and now I was ready to come undone over the first sexy man I’dtouched in ages.
Granted, he was pretty damn hot.
“Maybe we should expand your data.” Luch toyed with the top of my waistband, tugging a little downward to indicate what he meant. “Just to make sure you can report on all of my kisses.”
“Oh.Ohh.” I blinked up at him as he tugged at my leggings again. Bugger it. Even if I was a fool, I didn’t care. Inching forward I lifted my hips and let him slide my clothes down my legs and rip them off.
I didn’t even have time to think before his mouth was on me.
It was such a shock that I almost crushed the poor man’s head when I brought my legs together, leaning back on the counter as I thrust forward, and when he laughed against me, the vibration of it almost sent me over the edge.
“Easy there,” Luch said. Reaching up, he pressed my thighs wider and looked up at me with a relaxed smile on his face.
