She closed her eyes, and he didn’t know who closed the gap, but finally,finallytheir lips met, his skin buzzing with the contact.
Halle-fucking-lujah.
Her mouth was soft and insistent, and she made little sounds of pleasure that turned him instantly hard.God, how long had he wanted this, wantedher?When her tongue darted out to explore, he opened to her without hesitation, running his palm up her bare back and pressing her closer.She smelled like the summer breeze and tasted like heaven, the slide of her tongue driving him close to madness.
Blitz barked and whined and barked again, her collar jangling.
Natalie broke away with a soft laugh, her cheeks red, and looked around.“I don’t think your dog approves.”
“She’s just jealous.”He practically growled the words, leaning in to capture Natalie’s lips again.Why had he fought this for so long?
“Ford,” she said between kisses, gently pushing on his chest.“Ford, stop.”
He snapped his head back and dropped his hands.Oh, shit.Had he—
“It’s fine,” she interrupted, as if reading his mind.Her hand skimmed across his chest.“I just…” She licked her lips and took a deep breath.“I don’t understand what’s happening.I didn’t think you liked me all that much.”
With a groan, he let himself fall back onto the thick grass and scoffed.The problem was that he liked hertoomuch, and she was all wrong for him.She played fast and loose with the rules, and had little regard for her own safety orhisboundaries.They would be an absolute disaster together.And it wasn’t like he could simply sate his desire and then walk away.
There was no leaving Natalie until he knew for sure she was safe.
Blitz saved him from having to conjure a response when she broke command and lunged toward Natalie, who let out a yelp and scrambled backwards off his legs.
Rocketing up, he snagged the dog’s collar and yanked Blitz into his arms.“I’m fine, Beezy.It’s okay,” he said, invoking one of a dozen nicknames, stroking her side while gripping her tightly around the neck.“Natalie’s a friend.”
“Is that what I am?”Natalie asked, getting to her feet and letting Blitz sniff her fingers.
He glanced up and caught a flash of hurt and confusion on her face.Before he could figure out a response, she straightened, gave him an over-the-top smile, and started walking downhill toward the house.
Well, he’d thoroughly fucked that up.
With a sigh, he rose and followed, Blitz happily trailing behind him, sniffing the ground.
CHAPTER SEVEN
NATALIE’S SHOULDER THROBBED, but she didn’t slow down until she reached the house.That kiss had been… Well, the best kiss of her damn life.And not because she was without practice.
She’d imagined kissing Ford more times than she could count, but not like that.Not by accident, or whatever the hell that had been.If they ever did it again, she wanted it to be because he actually liked and respected her, not because he felt guilty about abandoning her, or had momentarily forgotten who she was.
“What’s wrong?”Henri asked when she let the screen door slam behind her and entered the living room.
“Nothing.I’m just thirsty.”She strode past him into the U-shaped kitchen tucked into the corner of the open space.After rinsing her hands, she filled a glass with water from the tap.“Ford’s right behind me.”
Henri studied her carefully.
“Did you know he was in jail?”She wasn’t accusing him of knowing, just curious.
“He told me before he went to find you.”Henri crossed his arms.“Are you okay after that fall?”
Her cheeks turned hot.“You saw that?”And probably the kiss too.
His lips pressed flat and he nodded.
Yep, definitely the kiss too.“I’m fine.”She cleared her throat and shifted on her feet.“What you saw, that was nothing.Just relief and adrenaline and…comfort, maybe.It’s not like that between us.”
His gaze moved to something behind her, and she turned to find Ford scowling in the doorway from the hall.Blitz, on the other hand, walked right over and stuck her nose in Natalie’s crotch.
“Hey.”She couldn’t help but laugh.Setting her glass on the counter, she crouched down to the dog’s height and stroked both hands into Blitz’s thick neck fur.The dog slowly turned, skin rippling in pleasure under Nat’s fingers, until she’d presented her tail.Obliging, Natalie rubbed the sweetie’s flanks until the dog flopped onto her back for a belly rub.“Greedy little thing, aren’t you?”
