Christ…what was he doing?
Stiffening, he broke the kiss, pushed her aside and stood. “Damn, Sophia. I’m sorry.” He backed up a few feet, and worked to get his breathing under control. “I shouldn’t have done that. I came here to watch the game, not…”
“What?” She rose to her feet and held his gaze. “Not kiss me like you can’t get enough.”
He nodded. “Yeah. That.”
Her dress was askew, a good portion of one of her gorgeous breasts bared where his hands longed to stray.
“It’s funny,” she said, regaining his attention. “Never took you for a coward.”
A coward?
Frowning, he reeled back. “What are you talking about?”
She folded her arms across her chest, plumping up her delicious curves. The lower part of his anatomy was still cocked. Now it was loaded.
“You’re running away again.” Her shrewd gaze locked onto him.
He narrowed his eyes. “Is that what you think I’m doing?”
“Aren’t you?”
“No.” He thrust a hand through his hair. “I’m trying to save you.”
She reeled back. “Save me from what?”
“Me.”
Her features softened, and she moved close, with a determined gleam in her eyes. “Ryder?”
“Yeah?” He tried to step back, but an armchair prevented his escape.
“I’ll let you in on a little secret.” Her palms met his chest, and his heartbeat thundered in his ears.
“What?”
“I don’t want to be saved from you.”
His heart rocked in his chest. Her confession made it hard for him to remain strong. Even his body was already caving, because his hand rose to brush a strand of hair back from her face. “Sophia, I’m not a forever kind of guy.”
Instead of stiffening, or pushing him away, she smiled at him, and spread her fingers on his chest. “That’s good, since I’m leaving here in a little over two months.”
“What are you saying?” He needed to be sure, because his interpretation sounded too good to be true.
“I’m not looking for forever, either.” Again, she smiled, but this time, she emphasized her words by rocking against him. “Is there anything else we need to clear up before you kiss me like you can’t get enough?”
The last of his misgivings disappeared under the sexy invitation in her eyes. “Nope.”
He cupped her face and gave her what she wanted, what he wanted, too. Hungrily, and deeply, he feasted on her taste, sweeping his tongue inside her mouth to reacquaint himself with her essence.
She moaned and slid her hands under his shirt, stroking his abs in soft, circular motions. Damn, that felt good. And when she unhooked his jeans and slid the zipper down, he groaned, needing to feel her hands around him.
But not yet. He’d never last.
Releasing her lips, he dragged his mouth down her throat, while his hands made quick work of her dress, tugging it all the way down her trembling curves. He stepped back and watched the material fall to her feet, and everything inside him tightened at once.
She kicked off her sandals, and wiggled out of her lacy underwear, until she stood before him, completely naked.
