That wasn’t what she’d wanted to hear.
Even though part of her mourned the loss of what hadn’t gotten started, relief settled over her shoulders like her comfortable old afghan.It was for the best not to start a relationship, or anything else, with him.As much as she hated to admit it.Getting involved with Jaxon would complicate her simple life.Though she didn’t want to be alone forever, she wanted a stable relationship and she just didn’t know Jaxon well enough...yet.Good thing she didn’t have to convince herself of anything, because he didn’t want to be with her anyway.
“But Christ,” he said.
The curse kick-started her pulse.
“I can’t get you out of my head.I can’t stop thinking about that kiss.But I also can’t promise anything.Whatever happens between us might not last beyond this storm.It’s your call, McKenna.Tell me to forget it and I’ll never bring it up again.”His plea was soft.
The world stopped spinning.Her breath rooted itself in her lungs.She let her gaze roam over the contours of his face to the half-inch long scruff of his beard that called to her palm.His lips, forever etched in her memory, parted just enough so she could see his white teeth.Guilt, or some other emotion she couldn’t place, tormented his brow line.
He was giving her the option.Little did he know she’d already made her choice.
CHAPTER 8
He’d gone toofar.Fuck, fuck, fuck.Why couldn’t he keep his mouth shut?Why did he have to push her boundaries and ask for more than she was willing to give?
Because he’d meant what he said.Before stumbling to her cabin, he’d been fascinated by McKenna.Not enough to approach her on a personal level.Not enough to even talk to her other than when he purchased one of her goods.But every time she’d passed him in the grocery store, every time her lips had turned up in acknowledgment of his presence, he’d been struck by the damn lovebug or whatever nonsense the fluttering feeling in his stomach was.
Being close to her, able to ask her questions and learn more about her, was like torture.He craved more.He needed to touch her.To comfort her.To know her.And hell, he needed the connection.
But now, the inch-high hike of her eyebrows told him he’d overstepped.Fuck it.He couldn’t take it back.He deserved to feel vulnerable for making her uncomfortable.If it hadn’t been for that kiss—that hard-on inducing, cock-throbbing swiping of her tongue—he probably could’ve kept his cool.
Her stunned expression slowly fell away.Pink crested her neck then quickly spread to her cheeks.She lifted her hand but stopped it in the air between them as if she’d had second thoughts.Then she opened her palm and rested it on his cheek.Her thumb moved over his beard and for a flicker of an instant, he wondered if she preferred clean-shaven men.The last time he and his mom had talked over FaceTime, she’d said he looked like a true mountain man now.
“I like this,” she said softly.“I’ve never kissed a man with a beard before.”
He tugged the short whiskers between his thumb and forefinger.“I’m not sure it’s long enough to be considered a beard.”
Warmth melted her eyes.“I’d say so.It suits you.”Her fingers curled away from his cheek, and she brought her hand to his shoulder.“I don’t want to regret this, Jaxon.”
He cupped her hips in his hands and brought his chin to her chest.God, it felt good to touch her.Promises burned his tongue, but he stayed true to his word and choked them down.Telling her that he was different, that he wouldn’t hurt or humiliate her, was pointless.At the end of the day, they hadn’t spent much time together.He couldn’t tell her he’d move heaven and earth for her, for god’s sake.But he could promise decency.
“I hope you don’t regret anything with me.Worst-case scenario, we don’t continue seeing each other after this.We can still be respectful of each other.”
Her eyes locked on his.She lifted her fingers and scraped them softly over his scalp.He fought a moan.
She leaned her face closer, and the scent of lavender emanated from her skin to tangle with her rose-scented shampoo.Her lips hovered over his.Her breath warmed his mouth, but she didn’t kiss him.Instead, she held herself back barely an inch.His body raged with need.He dug his fingertips into her hips to stop himself from lifting her into his arms and taking her on the couch.
“One night, right?That’s all we’re agreeing to?”
He nodded, not moving his attention from the milky swell of her pink lips.
“That works for me,” she said.
He snapped his gaze to her eyes.A surge of lust blasted from her irises, and relief coursed through him.He let out a low groan of approval and let his hands run over her ass.
She swept her palm around the back of his neck and closed her mouth over his.He wrapped his arms around her waist, locking her to him.Her breasts flattened against his chest as he stood with her in his arms.Her legs swept easily around his torso, allowing him to cradle her.
Her tongue worked between his lips, hot and slick.He opened his mouth wider and her heat filled him.He brushed his fingertips between her legs and she arched forward.
“Ah, god,” she panted.
The motion exposed her throat.He buried his face into the crook of her neck and licked her skin.Her thighs tightened around his waist.His skin heated with desire, and his balls tightened.If he didn’t get inside her now, he’d burst.
“Bedroom,” she breathed, jerking her head toward her room.
Jaxon moved down the hall, and her lips came down on his again.His knees bumped into the edge of the mattress, and he lowered her to the bed.He caught her sweater, dragging the material over her head.
