“We’ll try,” Sophia said.
The door closed, and Blayze let his eyes drift up to her at last. Heat flared in his gaze as his brow furrowed, just slightly, as if he were warring with himself over something. Over her.
“Blayze?”
The brows lifted now.
“I… just so that we’re understood…” Her face got hot as a rush of embarrassment spread up her cheeks. “When I climbed into bed with you the other night, I had no intention of letting things go far between us. I think it’s important that you know that.”
He dropped his gaze back to the table before looking to her once more.
“I’m not a woman who just—”
“I know you’re not,” he said. “I like that about you.”
An odd dose of longing fell over her. A nagging desire to be wrapped in Blayze’s big, strong arms and held. The events over the last few weeks—having to surrender and go into hiding— had left her feeling weak and vulnerable. Being rejected by Blayze hadn’t helped. An immature part of her wanted to get even with him. Wanted to make him regret turning her down. The better part of her sensed that he genuinely meant what he’d said. That hewasinterested in her and wanted to put things on holdbecauseof that.
Blayze reached for the bowls before him and headed over to the sink. Sophia snatched the glasses and napkins off the table and came up behind him as the sink filled. Her gaze settled on the growing mound of suds, thin wisps of steam dissipating as they rose.
She closed her eyes, leaned back against the counter, and willed the encompassing need for him away.
“I’ll take these,” Blayze mumbled.
She tuned into the clank of glasses, the clutter of silverware, and the distinct sounds of him loading each piece into the dishwasher. A small creak told her he’d closed it, though she didn’t open her eyes to see. By now she could feel him looking at her. Getting closer to her.
And at last, reaching a hand around the curve of her hip. So strong. So warm.
Her senses came alive like they’d been sleeping for ages. Blayze’s masculine, woodsy smell overwhelmed her. It was sohim.As if he were born right here among the redwoods and had taken on their scent as his own. She breathed him in and sighed.
Blayze nudged his strong body flush against her, nuzzled his face into her hair. “Dang Roman for leaving us alone,” he murmured. At once his heated mouth was on her neck, trailing kisses toward her earlobe in a hungry appeal.
Sophia tipped her head to one side, inviting him to take more as a whimper sounded somewhere deep in her throat. Goosebumps rushed over her skin as he did just that. Running the tip of his tongue along her earlobe before grazing her skin with his teeth. He groaned, then pressed a series of hot kisses back down her neck.
At once he pulled back, just barely, and Sophia opened her eyes to look at him through lazy lids. He searched her face, and she could sense the war happening in his head.
Please, Blayze. Just give into it for a moment.
His gaze dropped to her lips before moving up to her eyes once more. “Sophia,” he murmured, and pressed his mouth to hers in a driven kiss. A claiming kiss.
Mmm… yes.She washisin that moment, and not a person alive could argue it.
Sophia sank into the bliss of his masterful lips while exploring the span of his broad, muscled back. When the craving to feel his skin beneath her palms came, she slid her hands up the back of his head, fisting his short hair. “Si, mi amado,” she urged between kisses, his breath hot and mingling with hers.
The words seemed to trigger something in Blayze, because suddenly he was grasping her hips and lifting her onto the counter. Just as he came in for another kiss, Sophia realized how quickly things could move. Already she had visions of him taking her into the master bedroom in case Roman returned.
Blayze was probably right to stop things the other night; who knew if self-control and a kiss this good could exist in the same place? Still, she fed on the moment, let it fill the longing she had for him, assuring herself that he’d felt the same all along.
Yet, as his kisses grew slower and deeper, Blayze’s mouth casting a spell over her, Sophia realized thatshemight need to be the one to stop things.
“Blayze,” she mumbled against his lips before pulling back slightly. The back of her head rested against the cabinet now.
Blayze only moved in to take her lips again. And then once more, before replying. “Yeah?” Another kiss.
“Don’t you think we should…”
His body froze, all but the single brow he lifted in response. “Should what?”
Sophia grinned. She couldn’t help it. He looked so clueless as to what she might say.
