“You know why I’m here,” he said.
She blinked at that but didn’t answer, and he pushed on. “I’m here because for some goddamn reason, I care for you.”
Her eyes widened. “Nobody asked you to.”
He ignored the comment. “Ethan just accused me of still thinking of you as a child.” He took a step towards her, and she must have seen something in his eyes, because she backed away slightly. Maybe she was brighter than he gave her credit for. But he was done with pretending. “I don’t see you as a child.” And another step. “And I know you care about me, even if it goes against your better judgment.”
She sniffed, but her eyes shifted to the door behind him as if she was planning a quick getaway. “You’re delusional.”
He was close now, so close that when he breathed in deeply, he inhaled the familiar scent of her, spices and flowers. She reminded him of home. Reaching out, he rested his hands on her shoulders and she tensed beneath him. “I dare you not to run,” he murmured.
With her three-inch heels, she was only an inch or so shorter than him. Her eyes were dark and her skin pale. Her tongue flicked out to moisten her lower lip, and heat flared up in his belly.
Was she doing it on purpose?
But he didn’t think so. She was beyond pretense.
“Er...what are you doing?” Her voice was breathy and held an uncertainty he’d never heard from her before. She was always certain. So sure of herself.
He knew she was no virgin. She’d made sure he had heard about her various escapades over the years. The knowledge had almost driven him over the edge. She was goddamnhis. No one else’s. “Just proving a point.”
But that was a lie, and he’d promised himself honesty in this meeting. “Okay, so that’s not entirely true,” he said. “I have this need to kiss you, and if I don’t do it soon, I might go seriously insane.”
Her eyes widened as though he’d surprised her. She tried to pull back, but he held her in place. If she really wanted to go, she could get away with just a word, but all she said was, “And then who would save the world?”
“Don’t,” he said. “Don’t joke now. This is too important. Whether you come with me or not, you need to admit this thing between us.”
But it would never be that easy. This was Kaitlin, after all. She stared back at him, almost daring him. Christ, he wished he could get into her mind. But he wouldn’t break that promise. Soon she would let him back in.
“Don’t hold your breath,” she muttered.
Sliding his hands from her shoulders to her neck, his fingers skimmed the soft skin. A shiver ran through her. With one hand he stroked her cheek, trailed a finger over her lower lip. She was completely still in his arms, radiating a tension, waiting.
He tilted her head; some part of him wanted to put off this first kiss. It would change things between them. He hoped for the better, but you never knew with Kaitlin. Maybe that was part of her attraction. He’d always been so certain about everything.
He lowered his head slowly until his lips touched hers. He kissed her softly, dropping small kisses on the corner of hermouth. But her closeness was his undoing, and he deepened the kiss, pressing his lips hard to hers, his tongue pushing inside. She gasped against his mouth but didn’t try to pull away.
She tasted of heat and sweetness, and he wanted more. Her tongue moved tentatively against his and her hands came up to grip his shoulders, and she was kissing him back. He used both hands to cup her face, to kiss her harder, slanting his lips over hers, kissing her, eating her up.
He’d make love to her, and then she’d come with him, do whatever he wanted...
She stamped on his foot, and he went still, then slowly raised his head.
“Are you for real?I’ll do whatever you want?” she snarled, mimicking his thoughts. “You are such a freaking control freak.”
She was in his head? Of course, she was. Why wouldn’t she be? He wanted to say he hadn’t meant it, but he wasn’t sure that was the truth. She obviously picked up that thought as well, and she pursed her lips.
“You kissed me.” Her words were an accusation.
“You kissed me back.” That at least wasn’t a lie.
“Well, don’t think this means I forgive you or even like you.” She shrugged. “I was curious, that was all. You remind me of Jake.” She gave an exaggerated sigh. “And I always had a huge crush on Jake. Now I’m never going to get to kiss him, so you were the next best thing.”
For a moment, outrage filled his mind, then he caught the brief, smug smile. She was winding him up. Again. “Admit you liked it, and I’ll let you go.”
She shook her head. “You don’t get to let me go. I do what I like.”
Again, she was right. But she had that effect on him. He lost the ability to reason and be reasonable.
