He took her mouth with his again, and this time he didn’t hold back. Neither did she, answering his need with her own, her tongue meeting his.
He’d fantasized about kissing her, touching her, fucking her. Before this last trip, he’d fantasized almost every night. At the monastery, too.
Kenzie, always Kenzie.
But the reality of kissing her beat any fantasy. Her fingers fisted in his hair, and her body moved beneath his. She didn’t wait for him to make the next move, but slid one hand beneath his shirt, moaning as she took in the feel of him, her palms spreading fire over his skin.
Why hadn’t they done this before now?
He tore his lips from hers and returned the favor, raising himself up on one elbow to cup one of her breasts through her sweater and bra.
She moaned, arched into his hand, her nipple a hard pebble beneath the fabric.
He rucked up her sweater, moaned at the sight of her—the soft swells of her breasts, creamy skin, wine-red nipples peeking through black lace. He kissed her breastbone, then pushed the cup of her bra aside, and licked her nipple.
“Oh.” She gave a gasp, her areola drawing tight.
Then he lowered his mouth to her breast and suckled her.
A knock.
“Is anyone home?”
Kenzie’s eyes flew open. “Rose?”
“What the hell?” Conrad levered himself up. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
“I’m not going to hide.” Kenzie stood, adjusted her bra, pulled down her sweater.
“Hello?” Rose called again, clearlyinsidehis house now.
Kenzie looked like she was trying not to laugh, but Conrad didn’t find it funny at all. He adjusted himself, made sure his shirt covered the ridge of his erection, and walked out to the living room, Kenzie one step behind him.
Rose stood there, snooping through boxes, her back to him.
Conrad fought not to lose his temper. “Looking for something?”
Rose jumped, turned to face him, a magazine in her hand. “The door was unlocked—”
“So you just walked right in?” Conrad reached for the magazine.
Rose held it up so that the cover faced him. “The good old days, huh?”
On its cover was a photo of him and Bruce standing on the summit of Everest in 2008, both half frozen, both smiling. The sight of it hit him like a fist.
He jerked the magazine away from her. “Why are you here?”
Rose ignored the question, her lips curving in a knowing smile. “I thought that was your truck out front, Kenzie.”
“Hey, Rose,” Kenzie answered.
“We’re unpacking,” Not that it was any of Rose’s business, but Conrad didn’t want to expose Kenzie to gossip.
“You were being very quiet about it.”
Conrad opened his mouth to tell her to mind her own damned business, but Kenzie spoke first. “Gabby, my puppy, is asleep.”
From Rose’s smile, Conrad could tell she wasn’t buying it.
