“I bet Lucas is having fun with my parents,” she said. “Well, with my dad, I should say.”
Memphis thought back on the way her father offered to take Lucas back to their suite.“Let’s get some apple cobbler, take it up to the room, and watch a movie while Grandma takes a bubble bath and reads,”he’d said with genuine enthusiasm.
Memphis pried open the back door and motioned for Ty to step inside. “Seems like your dad’s pretty crazy about Lucas.”
“Yeah,” Ty agreed. She took a few tentative steps inside. “Whoa, it’s pretty dark in here.”
“You’re right. Wait here,” Memphis said as he followed her in. He used the small amount of light that poured in through the windows to make his way to the linen cupboard where he secured a fresh cloth. He shuffled over to the freezer next, glancing across the room to where Ty stood, back against the wall, arms folding over her chest.
He was quick to create an ice pack of sorts and make his way over to where she basked in the moonlight. Of all the heavenly scents he’d taken in that night—from the smokey barbecue to the tangy apple crisp—Memphis preferred the soft hints of lavender that often clung to Ty’s silky skin.
He detected hints of it as he neared and sighed. Mmm. It was a scent that reminded him of being close to Ty, and Memphis couldn’t think of anything he wanted more. As he stepped closer to her, he noticed a shift of energy in the room. As if the magnetic pull he felt toward her had just doubled in strength.
He and Ty had spent literal hours together tonight. First, as he got to know a bit more about her family while eating dinner with her parents and Lucas. Next, out on the dance floor while they struggled to learn the art of square dancing. Shuffling feet, holding hands, exchanging glances, smiles—and winks too, on his end.
It had been—hands-down—one of the best dates he’d been on, and it hadn’t even been an official date. Ty must have a reputation for bringing magic to the mundane. Nothing could be common or dull with her around. She dove into life head-first and without delay, enjoying all the little things that made it special.
As Memphis moved in, his eyes settled on the sore along her upper cheekbone. Moonlight spilled over her pretty face, illuminating the way she searched his face in return. Yes, there was that pull again. So sweet and tempting he could nearly taste it.
“Hi there,” she said in a whisper.
A fireball of heat rolled into his chest. “Hi.” It came out low and raspy, matching the sexy tone of her own greeting. Ty knew how to look and sound as friendly as the girl next door. But now that they were alone, she was shifting into something different.
Her hazel-eyed gaze was playful as she lifted a brow ever so slightly. And her tone—she might have only uttered a few words, but dang, did it sound seductive. She may as well have said,“We’re alone at last.”
Or maybe that was all in Memphis’s head. He cleared his throat and lifted the ice bundle to her cheek.
With her gaze on him, Ty placed her warm, silky hand over his, allowing for a bit of pressure as it met her face.
“Is that good?” he asked, voice still hoarse.
Ty’s fingers trailed down the length of his hand before circling his wrist. “Yes.” She closed her eyes and sighed. Her hand slid down over his elbow and then up the back of his bicep, where she gave him the slightest tug. A tugtoward her.She wanted him closer.
Memphis gulped as the longing intensified once again. He looked down, watching his feet as he slid one shoe between hers until their lower legs were sandwiched. He allowed himself to tune in to the sensation of her warmth surrounding his legs, and the feel of her hand grazing his chest as he leaned in the slightest bit.
It felt like there’d been a gas spill in this space, and together, Memphis and Ty were about to light the match. Using the hand cradling his bicep, Ty urged him even closer with another pull, this one less subtle.
Yes.How could it possibly feel so good to be simply standing this close to her? It was the fact that she wanted him this close, he decided, that made it so thrilling. And there was no doubt about it, the momentwasthrilling.
A spark of bravery came in, daring him to reach up and wrap his other hand on her warm, curvy hip. He did, and the sensation was better than he could have imagined. Something was happening here, assuring Memphis that the connection between them wasn’t just in his head. It was real, and Ty felt it too.
He pulled the ice pack away from her cheek and surveyed the spot for a blink. Ty’s eyes fluttered open. Her lids were heavy as she moved her gaze to settle on his mouth. Did she want him to kiss her? Would it be too soon if he did?
At the very least, he could kiss her wound. Memphis rubbed a thumb over her cheek, then lowered his head. His breath turned shaky as he hovered over the spot, daring himself to move in just one little inch. At last, he did.
Her cheek was icy cold against his lips as he pressed a soft, gentle kiss to the sore spot on her cheek.
Ty let out a whimper that ignited a whole new dose of heat.
“Does that hurt?” he asked, almost certain that it wasn’t from the pain.
She shook her head, the movement causing his lips to brush over a warmer spot on her face. “No,” she added. “It feels…nice.” That final word drifted off her tongue like a cloud.
He kissed her cheek again, ever so softly, allowing his breath—now jagged sounding and raw—to tickle her skin. He pressed another kiss to her face, this one closer to the corner of her lips.Yes.He would kiss her.Right now.
Memphis moved to cradle her face when something slipped from his hand. He could have ignored it, but the clattering sound of ice clanking on the floor broke the spell.
“Oh, the ice pack,” he mumbled, pulling away.
