This was not possible.
No, this was very wrong.
Years of intense longing broke free, enough that I was blinded by the desire.
“That’s not going to happen, doll face, and you know why?”
“Why?” she threw out, her tone as haughty as possible.
“Because I’m a man who takes what he wants.”
CHAPTER 7
Axe
The kiss was even more powerful, a reminder of memories that should have been kept locked away. I thrust my tongue inside, enjoying every second of tasting her.
She struggled at first, a moan slipping past our lips. Then she slowly stopped squirming, even sliding her hands along my chest.
I wasn’t gentle but I sensed she didn’t want me to be, her tongue dancing against mine. The moment of intimacy was everything and more.
When I pulled back, easing her to the floor, we both turned our heads, Kenzie pressing her fingers across her lips.
A part of me was ready to apologize, but why? She’d done exactly as she had all those years ago.
Taunted me on purpose. Hell, I was a man, for God’s sake. And she was most definitely a woman.
She took a deep breath and pushed me away as she’d done before, finally breaking whatever crazy spell that had fallen over us.
That didn’t mean she was going to be allowed to get away without resting.
I scooped her into my arms to stop her from managing to escape, carrying her into the living room. When I plopped her down on the couch, she acted like she was going to try to disobey me by getting up.
With my index finger pointed at her, I offered a stern look. “You’re not going anywhere. Try and relax.”
“Relax? How can I?” Even her voice was breathless.
“Because you don’t have anything else to do. Now, if I get my drink, will you try and be a good girl?”
The smug look she was wearing quickly shifted into one of mischief. I’d seen the look more times than I could count. She’d been famous for offering the bored-out-of-her-mind expression when she wasn’t thrilled with something. Wade used to tease her relentlessly over it.
Wade.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen the man. Oh, yeah. How could I forget? We’d almost gotten into a fight at the hardware store.
“Fine. I’ll be good,” she threw back, her retort dripping with sarcasm.
When I was almost to the kitchen door, the last two words she offered both stopped me in my tracks and made me smile.
“For now.”
The girl was a handful and always had been. Just before I snagged my glass, I realized carrying a secret torch for the woman was nothing new, but I’d thought after over eight years I was over the feelings. Instead, the moment recognition had settled in, I’d been hit hard with the full force of longing just as I’d experienced before.
She’d never been mine, but I’d felt the loss for years.
Maybe the gut-wrenching pain I was experiencing was compounded by another loss.
With the bottle in one hand, the glass in the other, I returned to the living room. I don’t know why in God’s name I believed Kenzie would follow my directions under any circumstances. Not only was she not on the couch, she wasn’t even in the room.
