Chapter Four
Ada had seen the day ending many different ways.
This was not one of them.
Jonny had shocked her when he had turned, pressed her chair back against the wall behind her, and took her lips swiftly and surely, with more intention than she had ever felt before.
She should push him off of her.
Hell, she should dig the pistol into his side andforcehim to let her go.
But the truth was, she was enjoying this, far more than she ever should.
His lips were hard yet soft, insistent yet exploratory. He pressed against her with so much assurance that after a moment or two of freezing beneath him, she felt herself softening, allowing him in, taking back as much as he was giving.
This was too good. Far more than she should allow, but oh, his body felt right beneath her fingers, which were now clutching his shirt, holding him close. His tongue teased her lips, and she let him in, met each stroke as tingles ran through her body, down her spine to ache deep in her core, as she began to need more. She shiftedfrom beneath him, wanting to open her legs and provide him better access, but, so far, he hadn’t even paused his current assault.
She lost herself in him, in his kiss, his hands holding her body against his, and it wasn’t until she gave a little moan against his mouth that he let her go so abruptly she had to catch herself on the arm of the chair.
“What—” she began, but his gaze was already on the door.
“Sharpe was here,” he said, his face grim, nothing else in his expression giving away how he had felt about kissing her, as he appeared as unaffected as she was reeling.
“Wh-what?”
“That was the best way to hide in plain sight. He wouldn’t expect to see us together. We have to go. Now.”
The patron of the tavern was approaching, and Jonny stood, catching her arm. “Is there a back door?” he asked, and she nodded, looking between them with questions in her eyes, but this did not seem the type of place to voice any inquiries aloud.
“Come with me,” she said, and as Jonny threw money on the table, Ada rose with him, staying silent as she was still thrown by her complete and utter loss of control within Jonny’s kiss.
They followed the woman out the back door, before staying in the shadows as they walked in near-silence.
“I don’t need you to walk me home,” Ada bit out, telling herself that Jonny’s dismissal of their kiss meant nothing to her, but, deep within, knowing far better.
It had stung. And she felt a fool for giving it any consideration, for not only participating but returning the kiss so enthusiastically.
She wanted nothing more than to be away from him, and to stay as far away from him as she could.
“I need to see you home safe.”
“I’d be safer without you.”
He snorted softly. “Perhaps.”
They were silent until they turned toward her house, Jonny knowing exactly where she lived, even if they hadn’t discussed it. But then, he’d been here before, hadn’t he?
“Goodbye, Tate,” she said dismissively, wanting to tell him that the kiss had meant nothing to her as well, that she had also been trying to hide — but she couldn’t quite find the words.
“Goodnight, Ada,” he said softly, padding down the steps, and she realized he was waiting to leave until she shut the door behind her.
So, she did just that, telling herself she was also closing the door to anything further between them besides being friends of friends.
It was far better that way — for everyone involved.
Most especially her.
“Ada, you’re late.”
