“You need to let me look at your hand.” Marie dampened some paper towel and wiped up the droplets of blood off the ground.
“It’s nothing, just a scratch.”
Marie resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Typical male response. “Of course it is. But who’s the medical professional here? Plus, I don’t want you bleeding all over my apartment. I’ll go get the first aid kit.”
“I guess there’s no point in my arguing with you, is there?” Isaac deposited the pieces of ceramic in the trash can, his lips curled into a smile that heated her body in a way she hadn’t felt in a very long time.
“Nope, and if you’re going to try and make a hot drink again, I’ll have one too.” She winked and headedback to the bathroom. She welcomed the coolness of the tiles beneath her feet. Anything to combat the way her body had reacted to a simple smile.
It was more than that. She was attracted to Isaac. Had been from the moment he’d appeared out of a cloud of dust. Even with his scruffy beard and hair, there had been something that had called to her. It was why she’d pushed him away all those months ago. It hadn’t been because she’d wanted to focus on the earthquake victims, though that had been part of it. But it was more. It was the way he’d awakened her and had her wanting things she hadn’t wanted in a long time.
A man in her life. Someone she could rely on, and in that short span of time she’d known that Isaac, or Samuel as he’d been back then, was a person who she could rely on. Just look at what he’d done in the last forty-eight hours since he’d stormed back into her life like a warrior.
Marie took a deep breath, closing her eyes as she let it out. While she was consumed by these feelings, she had no idea how Isaac felt about her.
He kissed you, I think it’s safe to say he’s attracted to you.
Why did her conscience have to pipe up at the most inconvenient of times? Even if there was a thread of truth to her inner thoughts. He had kissed her. He’dlaughed with her, and there hadn’t been a hint in his demeanor. Or anything that he’d said, to suggest it was a chore for him. Or that he was at her place out of duress.
Sighing again, she bent and grabbed the kit out of the cupboard, refusing to look at herself in the mirror, already knowing that her face would be flushed.
The kitchen floor was free of the damaged mug when she returned and Isaac was sitting at the small breakfast bar, a paper towel wrapped around his hand and two steaming mugs in front of him.
“I thought I was going to have to send a search party for you, you were gone for so long. Everything okay?” He lifted one of the mugs and blew on it.
His question was casual, but he couldn’t hide the concern darkening his brown eyes until they were almost black.
What did he think she was going to do? Run back to her bedroom and leave him alone in the kitchen?
“I wasn’t gone that long.” She placed the kit on the counter and grabbed his hand, ignoring the tingles shooting down her arm from their connection as she removed the paper from his wound.
“Felt like forever,” he whispered.
Her head snapped up and their gazes locked. Marie had no idea who moved first, but a second later their lips were meshed together. He tasted faintly of chocolate,and she melted against him when he pressed her close to his bare chest.
She clutched his shoulders, angling her head so that he could deepen the kiss. A moan escaped her, and she forgot all about what had brought her to the kitchen. Only remembering the restlessness that had pervaded her body from the moment she’d gone to bed knowing he was a few doors away from her.
Breathlessly they parted, and she licked her lips, as if wanting to imprint his kiss forever. “What are we doing?’ she asked.
How long had she’d been in the bathroom for him to feel like it had been a worrying absence?
Or was he referring to the time from when they’d first met in San Carlion to now?
Why did she need a reason, or explanation? All that mattered was that he was here in her apartment and she didn’t want him to leave.
His hand smoothed her hair away from her face, the touch sweet and gentle. “I don’t know, but all I know is, this feels right.”
It took a second for her to understand what he was saying. That he was answering her question and she couldn’t disagree with him. “It does.”
Marie pressed her lips against his, and this time the kiss was sweet and full of promise. A promise thatwhenever she needed him, he would be there. Waiting, ready to give her what she wanted.
“I like this,” she said as they broke the kiss.
“I do too.” His hands stroked up and down her back, and she was aware that she was wearing a silky tank top and sleep shorts and her hands were all over Isaac’s bare chest.
As much as she didn’t want to, Marie stepped out of his embrace and turned her attention back to the first-aid kit, opening it and getting out the supplies she thought she’d need. “Let’s get you fixed up.”
“Okay.” He laid his hand on the counter, the blood had dried around the wound, but it still wept a little.
