Page 46 of Let Me Be the One
Loving how it felt to have her body against his, shepressed closer. It could only be better if they were skin to skin. In a bed. God, he had a ripped body. Her hands explored as he devoured her mouth—
Suddenly he set her back, his gaze incendiary, his breathing ragged.
Confused, even a little lost, Callie concentrated on staying upright.
After staring into her eyes for an extended moment, he dropped his hands. “This probably isn’t a good idea.”
He was rejecting her? No, she wouldn’t accept that. “It’s agreatidea.” She tried to kiss him again.More, more. She wanted, needed, more.
“Callie, listen…” He caught her hands and continued to hold her away. “You’re on the rebound.”
No way had he just said that. Her brows drew together even as her lips continued to tingle. Seriously, she wanted more.
And he didn’t.
Well, thank God for indignation. It was a far more comfortable emotion than dejection. For his obnoxious comment, she jerked her hands free, but in case he mistook the gesture, she clutched his shirt again and went on tiptoes to speak right into his face. “Don’t think to tell me who I am, or what I’m doing. Only I get to do that.”
“Okay,” he said cautiously, eyeing her stance as if she might attack.
“Damn it, don’t use that placating tone with me either.”
His brows lifted high. “What would you have me do?”
In a near growl, she said, “Keep on kissing me.”
He half laughed, then dropped his head forward asecond before cupping her face. “Honey, there’s nothing I’d rather do. Well, other than a lot more.”
Yes, please. More, more, more.
“But,” he said, stressing the word, “you just busted your fiancé getting handsy in a coat room, right? Broke off a big society engagement. Bailed on a fancy wedding. Became the owner of a run-down house, goats and chickens, and a horse you haven’t even met yet. Tell me if I’m missing anything.”
He was missing her resolve, her free will to enjoy a stellar moment with an electrically hot man who made her yearn for things she’d never thought about before.
Clearly he didn’t recognize her determination to have it all, onherterms, regardless of what her parents, Sutter, Glory, or anyone else wanted.
Looking at his set features, she knew there’d be no relenting on his part—and it infuriated her. Why did men always want to be noble at the worst times? “You’re missing that I’m an adult who can choose what I want to do and when I want to do it. Right now,” she flagged a finger back and forth between them. “With me and you? I was having a great time. Actually, I’ve enjoyed every minute with you.” There, let him stew on that. “If that makes you uneasy, hey, that’s your issue. At the moment I don’t really care.”
Instead of appearing uneasy, he gave her a slow, wicked grin. “A great time, huh? So I’m the balm for what’s-his-name?”
Dropping her head back, she groaned out, “Ohmigod, you’re being impossible.” Then she took a determined step away from him, even though she’d have rather plastered herself to him and demanded…what?If a man tried to make demands of her, she’d cut him off at the knees.
He waited, equal parts annoyed and unsure.
“Sutter was the farthest thing from my mind. To me, there was just us and a lot of sexual compatibility.”
His brows lifted again, proving she’d surprised him.
Score one for her.
“Fine,” she said at last. “Play hard to get.” She’d do her best to be fair, but she didn’t have to like it. “I won’t beg, or even try to convince you. If somewhere along the way, before I get too busy”—as if—“you decide you’d like to see where the chemistry takes us, you know where I am.” She tilted closer to taunt him. “Here, with my goats, and my chickens, inmyhouse, where I damn well intend to stay.”
After a long, pointed look, he said, “Funny, Callie, but I don’t see that ever-present smile of yours.”
Eyes narrowing, she forced her lips to lift at the corners just the tiniest bit.
He didn’t return the smile, but she saw the amusement in his dark eyes and even that, his never-ending attitude, made her want to touch him all over.
She was trying to think of something calm and reasonable to say, but Kam chose that auspicious moment to rap at the front door, saving her the trouble.
