With her arms around his neck, she tipped her head for a better fit, and encouraged him with a small sound of hunger.
Totally on board, he cinched one arm around her waist, gathering her closer still, while he tunneled the fingers of his free hand into her hair. When she parted her lips and touched her tongue to his, he took over, turning so she was practically across his lap, boldly devouring her mouth like a starving man. The kiss grew hotter, deeper, until Joey thought she might go up in flames.
Before things got completely out of control, Hendrix eased up. He was still right there, enveloping her in his heat, scent and touch, but now only their breaths mingled, not their lips.
She had a more difficult time. Her fingers were knotted in his shirt, her heartbeat rapping hard against her breast.
Lightly stroking her, he gentled his fierce hold. “Damn.”
“Yeah.” It had been so long for her, she couldn’t think of anything better to say. She should have been out of practice, butthathad just happened, leaving her feeling like the most naturally sensual woman in the world. She could still taste him, and her every nerve ending sizzled with need.
It took him a minute, and then he said, “The very last thing I want to do is leave you.”
It was the last thing she wanted, too. How nice would it be to stretch out on the futon with Hendrix and his powerful body? That is, if he’d even fit. She glanced at the flat, lumpy mattress, currently folded upright to serve as a couch.
Hendrix snorted. “That thing doesn’t look at all inviting, but you?” He kissed her forehead, her cheek, the side of her neck where he lingered, nuzzling and setting off a new round of exciting shivers. “For you, I’d somehow make it work.”
She smiled at his attitude. “Except that Ryder is sleeping in his room, not that far away.”
“Exactly.” His expression sobered. “I’m guessing he’s not used to...disruptive sounds at night?”
Very true. “Nothing more than me closing a book and turning out a light.”
“And your snores.”
She swatted his shoulder, then had to pause and just feel him. Flattening her hand, she slid it over the hard curve of his shoulder and down to his biceps, then over to his chest to explore. Heat radiated through his flannel shirt, and she had to draw in a shaky breath. “I didn’t even know I wanted this until you.”
“This?”
“Attention from a man,” she said absently, again smoothing her hands over his broad chest. “This closeness, the intimacy.” Looking into his eyes, she whispered, “Sex.”
That small word caused his eyes to heat. His nostrils slightly flared with a deep inhale. He looked hard, provoked, but to Joey it was sexy as hell.
She expected another kiss, and he didn’t disappoint.
He treated her differently than anyone else. Not brusque and disappointed like Ted, or critical like her in-laws. Not with the affection and sibling love she got from her sister.
Hendrix brought out an onslaught of emotions and sensations that threatened to take out her knees. He seemed to know it, too, given how he braced her against him, wrapping her up in comfort and stimulation. His mouth crushed hers, his tongue stealing all thought as her body came sharply alive in so many unfamiliar ways.
It was going to take some getting used to, feeling this way. Being this way - with him.
Only him.
How did she deal with that?
When he lifted his mouth, he growled, “I’m glad it’s me.”
How could it have been anyone else?
“You look...”
“Confused? Off balance? Because I am, but in the very best ways.”
“Giving you something to think about at night, huh?”
“And even during the day,” she conceded. “I can guarantee I’ll be thinking about sex tonight.”
A ragged groan rumbled from deep in his throat. “Damn, me too. Eventually, we’ll figure it out. Until then, I need you to know that I’ll never rush you.”
