But that is a dangerous fantasy I have no business or right to entertain.
The masculine scent of him teases over my senses. I didn’t get to appreciate everything I missed about him earlier, but now that it’s just him and me it’s hard to miss the way winter clings to him. Fresh snow, gunpowder and danger create a powerful aphrodisiac.
Or I’m messed up in the head, which is entirely possible.
I cock a brow. “And if I say no?” I breathe out. I don’t know if I want him to stop me or test me.
He doesn’t answer. Phantom simply shakes his head in a slow-motion like the powers of all things will obey his silent command.
“You’re a man who always gets what he wants, after all.”
Phantom only nods. The movement draws my eye to the way the tips of his thick black hair play over his broad shoulders. It’s not long enough to pull back but perfect for running my fingers through.
And I do just that. I can’t resist. He growls and rubs his cheek against mine as my fingers comb through his hair. It’s one of my favorite pastimes way back when our lives were easier.
“Mm. I’ve missed your touch, baby.”
The burn of his scruff over the softness of my cheek sends a wave of heat through me I’m not expecting. I lean forward and press my lips to the sexy dip in his chin. Something I’ve been dying to do since he shoved his face into mine back at the old railway station.
I don’t anticipate the way he hungrily growls or the way he takes my mouth with his.
Nor do I expect to feel the full length of his arousal pressing against the seam of my pussy. The spandex pants I thought would be great for flexibility while out gathering incriminating evidence against my father have turned into the weapon of my destruction.
Because I can feel every hard inch and I don’t know if I can walk away from the tenderness I feel in him. Not again.
I press my heels into him and moan a little too loudly.
I tremble in his arms when his lips brush against my cheek, his hands gripping my ass. I inhale deeply, drawing in fortification for what I have to do next. But his scent works over me again and this time I get the full force of his raw power. It leaves my body tingling and heat brushing against parts of me I don’t have time to explore.
“Phantom, we can’t do this. Not again. Too many people can get hurt.”
Again he ignores my pleas and those seeking lips of his move from my cheek to tease over my lips. He sucks at my bottom lip, drawing the tender flesh between his teeth. I suck in air and moan into his mouth. Which was his sneaky plan all along.
He slips his tongue in and caresses the tip over mine. There’s nothing I can do but give in and kiss him back. My entire body strains against his. I arch into his hold and swirl my tongue over his, tasting, remembering. Wishing…
“Mommy.”
Whirling memories about what could have been instantly fall away.
Phantom kills the kiss and pulls back. Eyes full of gray fire pierce mine. “Mommy?”
5
EVERLY
This is not how I imagined me telling Phantom about his little girl.
Phantom considers me through narrowed eyes. It’s hard to read him as I see the mental shield snap into place over his emotions.
The man has trust issues as deep as the Grand Canyon and I just dug in another trench. Not only did I abandon him after he popped the question, now he knows why. Or at least he thinks he does.
“Phantom,” I start and pause. How do I tell the man he has a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter I had no plans of telling him about until she was old enough to protect herself?
Shit.
Phantom steps back and lets me down. The second my feet hit the floor I push past him and pluck my toddler off the floor.
“Yes, baby. Mommy is here. You should leave, Phantom. It’s better if you leave and let the past die.”
