Newman was at a loss to understand what she was talking about.
“Pardon?”
“No mess will be left behind.”
His eyes nearly crossed at the thought of making a mess with Hope, but he didn’t think her mother would appreciate him mentioning that fact.
“Out of all of them, I’ve always liked you best.”
On these ominous words. Militant got into her car, fired it to life, and backed out, missing Newman’s toes by centimeters. She then crawled up the driveway slower than a snail.
“Dear Christ, what the hell was that about?” he wondered, lowering the cover he still held to the floor. He headed to the front door and knocked. When no one answered, he turned the handle and walked inside.
“What are you doing?” he muttered, walking down the hall. He peered in the lounge and kitchen, but saw no sign of Hope. The garden was empty of her also, which left her bedroom. Checking the first two, he came up empty, but found her in the third one.
He snapped a picture of Hope with his cell phone, because he was fairly certain he’d never recreate the moment anytime soon. She lay on her bed, dressed in a pink kimono. Hair wet, long legs bare, and she slept with earbuds in her ears. She looked soft, approachable, and he wanted her with a hunger that drove him to move closer.
“Hope.” The name was raw, and wrenched from him.
Her eyes opened, but she didn’t look afraid. She pulled the buds from her ears, and looked up at him.
“What are you doing here?”
“Hell if I know.”
His heart was thudding, and he could do nothing to stop himself placing a knee on the bed beside her. He then braced his hands on either side of her head and leaned in.
“No.” The word was whispered, and it sounded more like a plea than a deterrent.
She reached for him as he took her lips beneath his. It was deep and hungry, and he wanted more. Where one kiss finished, another started, and on it went until he wasn’t sure if it would ever end.
“God, Hope.”
“I know, and it’s wrong.”
“I don’t know how it could be,” he whispered, opening the sash at her waist. Parting the robe, he looked at what he’d unwrapped. Pale curves, long limbs, and full breasts. He wanted to map every inch of her with his mouth.
“You’re beautiful.”
That made her snort.
“You seriously are.” He kissed her neck as he ran his hands up her sides. Her skin was warm and smooth. She smelled delicious.
“Who’d have thought it. Hope Lawrence smells really good.”
She giggled, but that fell away as his mouth reached her breast. He licked the slope and she shuddered. He then took her nipple into his mouth.
“Oh God!”
She arched into him, and Newman’s body was soon painfully aroused. He’d never felt the need to possess a woman like he did Hope. He wanted her willing, he wanted her wet and aching for him. He wanted her to need him.
“Let me pleasure you, Hope.”
The eyes she’d had shut, sprang open. She then wrestled him off his feet and onto the bed beside her.
“I don’t need you looking after me, Newman.”
“I-I wasn’t.”
