Her hands tightened behind his neck, causing his head to dip toward hers. Helpless to fight the pull, she leaned in, and her lips brushed his. Her entire body lit with awareness from her scalp to her toes, like she’d just turned on the light after a very long time in the dark.Whoa.
Yeah. Sparks. She and Mark still had them.
She sucked in a ragged breath, her eyes locking on to his, and then he kissed her back. This time his lips crashed into hers with an urgency that matched the need flaring inside her. Her eyes fluttered shut, and her lips parted.
“Woof!”
Jessica’s forehead bumped into Mark’s. He was looking down at the dog, his expression a mixture of amusement and frustration. At his feet, the dog was staring right back in rapt attention.
Way to ruin the moment, Fluffball.
Mark’s gaze flicked back to Jessica’s, and almost without thinking, she tipped her face, bringing her lips back to his. Everything inside her went all hot and tingly as his tongue swept into her mouth.
“Woof!”
“Seriously, now you discover your voice?” She glared down at the dog in mock exasperation.
Mark let out a rough laugh. “She hasn’t made a peep all day.”
“I don’t think she likes us kissing.” As she spoke, her gaze dropped to his lips. The damn dog was probably the only one here that had any sense. But right now, Jessica. Did. Not. Care.
The only thing she could think about was kissing him again. And again.
Mark shifted her in his arms, reaching behind him. He pulled something out of the pack he wore and tossed it to the dog. She immediately crouched on the ground to eat the treat.
Then he was kissing Jessica again. She leaned forward in his arms, clinging to him as their tongues tangled together, tasting, devouring. It was hot and messy and perfect. His arms tightened around her, holding her close as he kissed all the logic right out of her. Because right then, right there, who cared about being wrong if wrong felt so amazinglyright?
“Mark,” she murmured, pressing a hand over his heart. It pounded against her palm, hard and fast, and already he was kissing her again. It was too much, and not enough, and oh, she had no idea what to do with this man!
She wanted his hands all over her, wanted to explore every inch of his body, so much bigger and stronger than he’d been in high school. She wanted to know if it would be as good between them now as it had been then.Better.Could it possibly be better?
Each stroke of his tongue against hers promised a resoundinghell yes.
There was only one small problem with their current position. While it was quite romantic to be held in his arms while he kissed her bones to jelly, it kept him from being able to do anything fun with his hands…like touch her in any of the places that were screaming to be touched. To fit her good parts against his and see if they still lined up just right.
She squirmed in his arms, restless, aching for more. “Mark…”
He lifted his head, his dark eyes blazing with the reflection of the sunset behind them. God, he was absolutely the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen. She traced a finger over the scar on his cheek. It was smooth, almost slick, puckered against his skin.
He flinched.
“Does it hurt?” she whispered.
He shook his head.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?” His voice rumbled through her.
“For whatever happened to you overseas.” Because she had a feeling there were other scars, less visible ones, physical and emotional.
He opted to kiss her again instead of answering, and she couldn’t argue with that. Not when kissing him was the most fun she’d had in weeks, months, years…who the hell knew? God, he tasted good, he felt good.Shefelt good in his arms.
And whoa. This was getting out of hand. “Put me down,” she murmured against his lips.
He lowered her gently, still supporting her with one arm, and holy shit, she’d forgotten why he was carrying her in the first place because,ouch, her left knee screamed in protest when she tried to stand on it.
She shifted her weight to her right leg, holding on to Mark for balance, which refocused her attention to the fact that now their bodieswerematched up. His hard length pressed against her belly like a sinful invitation.
