“That’s correct.” He looked around the forest and then shifted to see her better. “This was one of a few places that came to mind as being an important part of that last summer.”
Tension curled through her at the reminder of the information he wanted.
“Are we back to the interrogation?” She crossed one leg over the other and gazed down into the water below.
The rush of shallow water could have mesmerized her if she hadn’t been in the middle of a very intriguing conversation.
“I think you know damn well no one has interrogated you yet.” He had moved closer while she’d been looking away.
His shoulder brushed hers, the warmth of his body heating her straight through his shirtsleeve and hers.
“So I’m free to reminisce about whatever I like?” She played with the hem of her dress until his hand covered hers and stilled the movement.
Could he feel her heartbeat pound where one of his fingers lay on the inside of her wrist? The sunlight found lighter hints of brown in his hair and illuminated the rough shadow along his jaw.
“Now that we’re alone, I’m very interested to see what kind of memory you’ll bring up next.”
She smiled then, confident now that it wasn’t an accident he’d brought her here. To this bridge. Where they’d first kissed.
“I don’t know.” She shook her head, feigningconfusion. “It’s been a long time. Maybe you ought to tell me what you remember. That might help me.”
“I remember getting hypnotized by a wild girl who loved to run through forests.” He tunneled his fingers into her hair, igniting shivers down her spine.
She wanted to curl into that touch and seek more of it.
“A wild girl?” She wondered how much he was teasing and how much he had seen her that way.
“Oh yeah. She was hell on wheels.” His thumb stroked a path over the middle of her cheek, back and forth, a warm brush of calluses. “I could never keep up.”
Her heart turned over on itself. After all the years she’d spent hiding from the world since then, it was nice to remember a time when she’d felt strong. Desirable. When life was more exciting than scary.
“I don’t know that I remember her. Tell me more.” Looking into his eyes, she recognized the boy she’d been crazy about so long ago.
She still wanted him to kiss her every bit as much as she had that first day.
“I always had fun chasing you, Amy.” His lips neared her ear where he spoke the words softly against her skin.
More shivers. More want.
“I’m not running now.” She lifted her hand to his chest, where she could feel powerful muscle and the steady thrum of his heartbeat.
“Looks like I’m going to catch you for sure, then.” His words were a soft breath of minty air over her lips in the moment before his mouth slanted over hers.
Everything else stilled. His hand in her hair. Her fingers splayed against the placket of his shirt. He moved only his lips as he kissed her. A slow, tantalizing pressure until sheopened for him, her tongue darting out to see if he still tasted the same.
He shifted then, circling her waist with one arm to draw her closer. His hand cupped her hip so their thighs pressed flush together, her right leg tight to his left. She ended up crossing her other knee over his too, half in his lap as she looped her arms around his neck.
He tasted like toothpaste and kissed like he had all the time in the world for her. She couldn’t get enough of him. She pressed nearer still, her breasts grazing the wall of his chest while she lost herself in the feel of him.
She hadn’t been touched like this since she’d been with him. He traced a path down her spine with slow deliberation, as if he could somehow press her closer, vertebrae by vertebrae. When he reached the waistband of her leggings, a ridge he must be able to feel through her thin cotton dress, he followed the line to one side and then backtracked to the other, as if he was contemplating sliding away a barrier.
Or maybe that was just her wishful imagination. Nerve endings flared to life all over her body. Her skin was tingling from his touch, and he hadn’t peeled away even so much as her sweater.
He broke the kiss to lean back, his gray gaze raking over her like a fiery touch.
“Bring back any memories yet?” He arched a heavy eyebrow, his focus returning to her mouth.
“I remember how hot and bothered your kisses make me.” She couldn’t imagine how she could sleep tonight after the fever he’d stirred inside her.
