Page 81 of Her Tempting Protector

His tongue traced her bottom lip, soft and beguiling, she followed his lead and enjoyed every minute of the journey. She was dizzy with desire. His arm pulled her closer, and a warm hand snuck beneath her sweater and drizzled waves of heat on top of long dormant nerve endings. She shivered and pressed closer.

Carys clutched at his shirt, distantly realizing her nails were digging into his chest, but she didn’t care. He should be punished for putting her through this much pleasure and pain.

How can I ache this badly?

He trailed kisses along her jaw and licked her collar bone. He was kneading her scalp, helping her come down off her physical high.

“Don’t leave,” she entreated.

He brushed back her hair and stared at her with solemn blue eyes. “I have to leave. I promised not to seduce you. It’s too soon for this, Carys, and deep down you know it. You need to know me better.”

She sighed. “I know you, Cullen. I just want to know us.”

“There’s my smart doctor.”

“I’m going to take you to lunch later today. We can discuss your future plans then, okay?” He held her hand, his thumb brushed over the Claddagh ring on her pinkie.

“Okay,” she agreed. “I want waffles.”

“For lunch? Do you know a place that serves waffles for lunch?”

“Yep.”

“With strawberries?” he asked.

“Blackberries. And homemade whipped cream.”

She gripped his hand tight.

“This is a good thing, Carys. I promise.”

“I know,” she lied.

He chuckled, and she knew that he saw through her lie. Cullen opened the door and stepped out onto the stoop. “I’ll be waiting for your call, now get your tushie to bed. Don’t forget to lock up after me.”

She nodded, then did just that. She watched out the side window as he walked past the trike on the way to the rental car. By God, she was going to reach for the brass ring. She might not get it, but at least she will have tried.

* * *

Love me, love my dog.

Cullen had always believed in that saying, but seriously? Carys had been playing with Aries for twenty-six minutes. It was twenty-four minutes too damn long as far as he was concerned. Her red-gold hair shone in the afternoon light as she played tug-o-war with the knotted rope in his backyard with his rambunctious German Shephard. Aries would keep at this for another two hours if he let him. But enough was enough already.

He gave a command whistle and Aries dropped the toy, sending Carys on her cute little jeans-clad ass. Aries high-tailed it over to him on his deck.

“Hey, I call foul,” Carys called up to him.

“Dinner’s going to burn pretty soon.”

She got up and brushed off her butt and grinned as she sauntered up the hill to his house. “Well, why didn’t you say so?”

“I’ve already called out twice, you ignored me. Apparently, Aries minds better.”

“He’s a good dog,” Carys agreed as she got to the top of the stairs. “So, what did you make?”

“Spaghetti, garlic bread, and asparagus.”

“I’ve got to clean up,” she said as she looked down at her clothes.