Page 44 of The Reluctant Flirt


Font Size:

Kane stood a few inches away. He took in the rapid pulse point in her neck, the ragged sound of her breath, the stilled muscles as she waited for his next move.

Slowly, carefully, he reached out and trailed a finger down the curve of her cheek. Heat crackled between them, flushing her skin, whipping up the familiar tension he’d never found with another woman.

“I want you, Sierra Lourde. I want you back in my bed. I want you in my life. I want you to be mine, and I’m going to do whatever I need to get you there.”

Her hazel eyes flared with a longing she couldn’t hide, even as her voice stumbled over the words. “That’s impossible. We can’t do this. It’s too late!”

A smile touched his lips. He moved his hand into her hair, twining the silky strands in a loose grip, lowering his mouth so close, he felt the uneven rush of her breath and watched her pupils dilate in arousal. He’d forgotten how perfect she felt in his arms, the soft weight of her, the flutter of thick lashes, the lushness of her mouth trembling right before he kissed her. Four years melted away, and it was once again only them together and the unending, seething heat of connection. “No, sweetheart. It’s just the beginning.”

His mouth dipped, giving her plenty of time to push him away, allowing just enough space between their bodies so she didn’t feel trapped.

Sierra didn’t move; barely breathed.

His lips touched hers.

Paused. Waiting. Forcing her to be part of what was about to happen next.

A shudder wracked through her. A tiny moan escaped.

“Kane?”

His name ripped past his ears and his patience exploded. With one swift movement, his mouth took hers in a blistering kiss, unable to hold back years of wishing, dreaming, and wanting.

God, he’d wanted to be gentle. He intended to seduce and tease until she was ready, but the hunger stole his breath and he could only devour her whole, his tongue slipping past her lips to dive deep, to take and give and conquer. She gave back everything twofold, arms wrapped around his shoulders, plastering her chest to his, opening her mouth to anything and everything he craved.

He explored the slick, satin heat and gathered her taste, halfway drunk on sheer pleasure. He sunk his teeth into her plump lower lip, captured her moan, and angled his head to consume more. Over and over, he delved and retreated, teasing her into a delicious game. The bite of her nails against his scalp urged him on, taking the kiss to a possessive claiming to prove her words meant nothing against the sizzling chemistry.

Kane never wanted to stop but he knew this was only the first step in his plan.

Pushing too hard before she was ready could cause her to run.

And damned if he’d let her escape him again.

He eased off, breaking the kiss with obvious reluctance. Kane studied her face with a male triumph he couldn’t hide. Those beautiful eyes were hazy and lit with arousal, her mouth soft and gleaming with dampness, body clinging to his with a natural ease she couldn’t hide.

She blinked. Removed her arms from his shoulders. Regarded him with a growing unease as she began to realize he wasn’t about to be neatly dismissed.

Not after that kiss.

“You can’t deny what’s still between us, Sierra. You just proved we have unfinished business.” His gaze raked over her still trembling body. “And I’m not going anywhere until it’s settled.”

Sierra stared at the man who’d just taken her body to the same extreme heights years ago. How had this happened? How had things gotten out of control so quickly?

Because you haven’t gotten over him, the voice whispered. Maybe that’s why none of your dates ever worked out. You’ve been secretly waiting for Kane Masterson.

Oh, she hated that he was the one to break off the kiss. With all her denials, Sierra had been the one to whimper and cling to him, obviously having no intention of stopping the embrace from going further. She pushed away the humiliating thought as he studied her and tried to gather her control. “That can’t happen again.”

A smile touched his lips. “But it will.”

Anger was a welcome distraction and she grabbed it with relief. “Who do you think you are? Just because we spent one night together a lifetime ago doesn’t give you the right to anything, let alone declaring these ridiculous intentions like we’re trapped in one of Aspen’s romance novels.”

“Thought women liked an alpha male?”

“It’s not funny, and I always preferred the beta.”

“Good, because I’ve lost my edge and moved into beta territory.”

“Stop! You couldn’t be beta if you tried.”