Page 16 of His Secret Wish

She reached out and grabbed the back belt loop of Owen’s jeans, mostly so she didn’t trip and fall. At least that was what she was telling herself.

He stumbled a little, catching his footing right away, and glanced at her over his shoulder. The shadows made it hard to tell what he was thinking, or even what expression was on his handsome face.

She tossed him a smile, one she hoped he could see in the dim light. “I didn’t want to trip and fall.”

He grunted, one she recognized. It was his sure, if that’s what you want to go with, grunt, and her smile widened so much, her cheeks ached. He led her into the bedroom. She closed the door behind them while he walked over and snapped on the lamp on the bedside table.

The glow from the lamp was soft and golden, making the space feel cozy. Except, there was a bit of a nip in the air. And by a nip, she meant it was pretty damn frigid. She hugged herself to stop from shivering. “Why is it so cold in here?”

Owen climbed onto the bed and lifted his hand toward the window. The springs protested, letting out a high-pitched squeal. “The wind is coming through a crack in this window. It was fine when the sun was shining because it warmed it up in here, and of course, heat rises.” He jumped, clearly trying to get a better look, and the bed gave an even louder squeak.

Her cheeks imploded. “Stop that.”

He looked at her, his hands on his hips. “What? I’m trying to see if there’s a way I can block the wind.”

“Not that. The jumping. They’re going to think that we’re... you know.” She gestured toward the bed, and then to him.

“We’re doing what?” He gave another quick jump. The bed gave another squealy groan.

“Stop,” she said, grabbing his arm.

He twisted her hold around until he was the one with the leverage and then pulled her up onto the bed with him. She let out a quick, surprised squeal. The springs gave a loud wail. Her body collided with his, and he grabbed her to stop her from bouncing off him and onto the floor.

She looked up at him. The grin on his face stopped her heart. She couldn’t recall the last time she’d seen him smile like that. Her own lips tilted up into a matching grin, and a laugh bubbled up and out before she could stop it.

“You’re incorrigible,” she said, trying to catch her breath.

He just grinned and bounced up and down a little more. The squeak, squeak, squeak of the springs sounded super loud in the quiet attic.

“Stop.” She smacked him playfully on the arm, another laugh escaping.

He leaned in and captured her lips. She stopped, moving, thinking, breathing. A kiss was the last thing she’d expected from him.

His hands on her waist flexed, and he stiffened. She could tell he was about to pull away from her, and in that moment, her baser instincts took over.

She melted against him, wrapping her arms around his waist so she was pressed against him fully. He squeezed her waist and then slid his hands down to cup her butt. It had been forever since he’d touched her like this, she couldn’t help but moan.

He made a growling sound, the kind that rumbled through his chest and directly into her. So hot. She opened her mouth and swiped her tongue along the seam of his lips, trying to coax him to deepen the kiss. Because she wanted more.

His mouth opened, and then his tongue was there, pushing into her mouth, sliding against hers.

She’d forgotten his taste, how addictive it could be, but it all came rushing back in a flood. Like cool mint, and good bourbon. She’d become hooked long ago, but had let time dull her memories.

His tongue swept against hers, coaxing and teasing, just how she liked it. That was one of the things that was good about them being together for so long. They knew what the other liked, what each other craved. He gave her butt a squeeze and hauled her tighter against him. Maybe a little too good.

It meant he could turn her inside out with only a few caresses.

She deepened the kiss, thrusting her tongue against his. Two could play this game. His erection dug into her belly, and she slipped one hand between them to cup him through the denim. He made that growling sound again and flexed his hips against her hand. She gave a gentle squeeze. This time he groaned. She swallowed the sound, thrilled she could still make him lose control. He was usually so buttoned up, so uptight. She was the only one who’d ever gotten to see him like this. Wild and untamed.

Unless he’d been with someone else while they were separated. Just because she hadn’t been with anyone, aside from a couple of dates that went absolutely nowhere, didn’t mean he hadn’t been out sowing his wild oats, since he’d been completely free to do so.

That revelation dumped a big old bucket of ice water on her libido.

She pulled back, the breath sawing in and out of her lungs. He was staring down at her, his blue gaze full of heat. Part of her wanted to say forget it, and dive back in. Because it would be oh-so-good. And it had been way too long since she’d had oh-so-good.

But the idea of him with someone else was too much for her to deal with right now. Especially the kissing part.

She stepped back, and then off the bed. He watched her go, his expression morphing into that stupid blank one she hated. Her skin tingled where he’d touched her, where she’d been pressed against him, and she wanted so badly to step back into his arms.