Page 9 of Herding Cat

Oh, she tried to hide it, but he saw it. Couldn’t miss it. It sent a flame licking through his body. He was damn tired of pretending. Tired of looking away. Tired of acting like the simmering arousal he felt for her didn’t exist. Tired of keeping himself constrained.

As he continued to watch her, she became restless. And then she frowned. “Stop that,” she said.

“Stop what?”

“Stop looking at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like you want to...eat me up.”

He did. He wanted to eat her all up. And he wanted her to know it.

He couldn’t stop his roguish grin. “Scott was right.”

She blinked. “What?”

“It is hard to be with you, day in and day out, and not make a move.”

Her throat worked. “I...ah... Do you want to make a move?”

“Hell, yeah.”

A pink tide crept up her cheeks. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“It’s not ridiculous in the least.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because you should know.”

“Know? Know what?” Her innocence was feigned. It had to be. She was a grown woman. A knockout. Surely she knew what effect she had on the males of the species.

“You should know how much I want to kiss you right now.”

Her eyes shone. Her lips parted. Her tongue peeped out.

And yeah, that was an engraved invitation if he’d ever seen one. Without a word, he pushed back his chair and rose. And then he rounded the table, took hold of her wrist and yanked her into his arms.

Chapter Three

Oh. Holy. God.

Garrett pulled her against him and before she could protest—though she sincerely doubted she had it in her to do so—settled his mouth over hers. It was a soft kiss. A gentle one. Testing and teasing.

Her knees nearly collapsed. He tasted so good. His heat was soothing and invigorating. His hold on her a thrilling captivity.

She moaned, some indistinguishable sound, something desperate and low. He responded with a growl and tipped his head to the side and deepened the kiss. At the same time, his large hand slid up over her hip and her flank, to capture her breast. He touched her nipple and it was as though she’d been singed by a live wire. Shivers rippled through her, walking along her nerve endings, waking her. When he made his way over her cheek, to nestle in her neck, to nibble and nip at her sensitive flesh there, she shuddered. Her body softened. A damp heat surged.

She wanted him badly, and reveled in the evidence that he wanted her.

He was the perfect man. Tall, strong, beautiful. Young.

Well, hell. She should not have allowed that thought. As soon as it seeped into her mind, it possessed her.

“Oh God,” she groaned, pushing him away, though he didn’t seem inclined to be pushed. “We shouldn’t.”

Garrett leaned back and huffed a sound, something that might have been a laugh. His breath, his scent bathed her face. “You want to stop?”