‘Sorry,’ he said, sounding slightly surprised by her irritability. ‘Is there something wrong?’
‘No. I just have some work I need to do.’
‘You’re angry that Poppy found out, aren’t you?’ he said, stepping back as she grabbed hold of the front of her towel protectively.
‘No … well, I mean, it wasn’t ideal. I wanted to prepare her.’ ‘Yeah, me too. But she seemed to take it okay, considering. But I did want to talk to you about it. We just didn’t get a chance last night.’
‘No. It was pretty full-on.’
‘I know it wasn’t the way we wanted to do it, but I’m kind of glad it’s out in the open.’
Kenzie had tried to put herself in his and his family’s shoes; it had to be hard for them to act like they were just friends instead of Poppy’s actual family, meeting for the first time, nonetheless. But everything was suddenly feeling like it was unravelling, and she was losing control. She didn’t need a psychologist to point out that,right there, was probably the crux of the matter.
Kenzie managed a slight nod. A drop of water from her wet hair splattered onto her shoulder and she remembered she was still standing in the bathroom doorway, in just a towel.
Ewan also seemed to notice, his gaze dropping to her shoulder and following the droplet’s progress as it slid over her shoulder and down across her chest into the cleavage hidden beneath where she’d tucked the towel. A surge of warmth ran through her and goosebumps rose along her arms, as though his eyes had touched her skin.
The old house was silent except for the old grandfather clock at the end of the landing, and her heartbeat pounding in her ears.
She didn’t move away when he leaned forward. Her eyes fluttered shut and she hardly dared to breathe as she waited for the touch of his mouth against her own … only it didn’t arrive. Instead, a trail of heat ran lightly across her collarbone and up the side of her neck, sending a quiver of exquisite delight in its wake.
A small moan escaped her lips, and she melted into his arms, feeling them close around her tightly before he lifted his head and found her lips. The kiss deepened and she foundher back pressed against the cool tiles of the wall, her hands bunched in the front of his shirt as she rose up on tiptoes to kiss him back with equal force.
It was crazy, starting from nothing, but his touch sent her up in flames. She was consumed by him, burning from the inside out.
Twenty-seven
Kenzie trembled beneath Ewan’s hands, setting off an equally intense reaction inside him. She was beautiful. He hadn’t expected to find her dressed only in a towel, her shapely thighs teasing him beneath its hem, her breasts pushed together beneath a precariously tucked knot.
He’d been replaying their previous kiss over and over in his mind ever since it happened and last night had dreamed a dream so vivid and erotic that he’d woken up unsure at first if ithadactually happened. But the bed beside him had been untouched and the realisation had been almost crushing. He’d decided to go for a run in an attempt to rid himself of all this pent-up … whatever the hell it was. But one look at her—one touch—and he was gone again.
At her small moan, his body instantly reacted. He savoured the softness of her skin beneath his fingertips, moving herbackwards into the bathroom without lifting his head and kicking the door shut with his foot. Impatiently, she plucked at his clothing, and when she gave a frustrated growl, he moved her fingers away and took over, pulling his shirt up over his head, and shucking off his pants and shoes. His fingers moved to the front of her towel, and it fell to the floor and lay in a pile at her feet.
Her skin was golden brown, except for the paler shades in the shape of a bathing suit, testament to her coastal lifestyle. As he leaned in to kiss her once more, the heady scent of coconut shampoo and woman hit his senses like a Mack truck.
‘That was not how I saw this happening,’ Ewan said in a rush of breath as he stepped out from the shower. He worked on drying himself before wrapping the towel around his waist.
Kenzie swallowed as her gaze followed the movement, quickly raising her eyes to his and forcing herself to stop her mind wandering. ‘How did you see it happening?’ she asked nervously.
‘Not in a wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am, up-against-the-bathroom-wall kind of way,’ he muttered, sounding slightly disgusted with himself.
She’d never had bathroom sex before, and she’d like to say she was offended and worthy of something far more civilised, but she hadn’t exactly hated it.
‘I’m sorry, Kenzie. It shouldn’t have happened like that.’
‘I wasn’t complaining,’ she heard herself say, and wondered if she was somehow having some kind of out-of-body experience.Who was this hussy?
Ewan’s small frown slowly melted. ‘Neither was I. But I’d like to think I have a little more finesse and self-control … usually. At least enough to get to a bed.’
She shrugged. ‘Beds are overrated.’ She turned away quickly, her cheeks burning.What was she saying?
‘Is that so?’ He sounded intrigued.
‘Well … sometimes.’ Apparently, full-of-bravado Kenzie was done for the morning. ‘I have to go and get ready. Your mother and Poppy are spending the morning in the garden, so I’m going to get a bit of work done.’
‘Sure,’ he said lightly, thankfully not pursuing her inappropriate line of conversation. ‘I guess I kind of held you up.’
An image instantly flashed before her, him holding her hips steadily, literally the only thing keeping her upright when her knees had felt like jelly.
