Page 27

He bounced the thoughts around, ambling back toward the sitting room when someone banged on the door. He placed his drink on a coaster then picked his way over to the entrance, yanking the slab open.
Mackenzie stood on the porch, hair dripping, a case of beer in one hand. She tilted her head to the side, her gaze traveling the length of him and back as she bit at her bottom lip, looking incredibly sexy in her obvious indecision.
Foster swung the door aside, leaning against the frame as he nodded at the six pack. “Do you plan on sharing that?”
Her mouth curved into a stunning smile, and he had to fist his hand against the wood to stop from grabbing her jacket and dragging her against him. Finally claiming those full lips with his. “It seemed like an appropriate offering in order to quell my curiosity.”
“Curiosity?”
“I needed to see for myself if you had a helicopter stashed in one of the rooms and were bringing it to the hanger one piece at a time.”
“Just the instrument panel.” He waved her in, shutting out the wind and rain before leaning against the door and wondering how the room felt suddenly full just by having her walk inside.
Mackenzie turned, brushing some of her wet hair off her face as she set the beer on the floor. She shook out her jacket, hanging it on one of the ornate hooks before turning to look at him, a hint of pink slowly coloring her cheeks.
She shifted on her feet, finally blowing out a rough breath when he just stood there, staring. “Have I got something on my face?”
He opened his mouth to utter a witty comeback but all that made it past the lump in his throat was a harsh rasp.
Her smile faded and she took a step closer. “Beckett?”
He moved. Covered the three steps separating them before snagging her around the waist and pulling her close. She inhaled as he spun, backing her up until he’d effectively changed their places, her body pressed against the door. Foster braced one arm above her head, palming his other hand beside her waist as he forced air in then blew it out. Anything to try and regain some control.
Mackenzie blinked, as if she was still trying to get her bearings before she relaxed against the door, looking up at him with that brilliant blue gaze. He leaned closer, getting his face even with hers when she lifted one hand and touched his cheek, her cold damp fingers sending shivers down his spine.
She waited, her gaze locked on his before she sighed and inched closer. “Foster.”
The way she said his first name… It pooled heat in his groin — had him picturing all the ways he wanted to touch her. Feel all that creamy skin pass beneath his hands.
He sucked in a shaky breath, muttering the first thing that formed on his tongue. “God, you’re beautiful.”
Her fingers curled against his jaw, the tips catching on the thick layer of stubble. “Have I gotten this all wrong or has there been something brewing between us since that first night in the chopper?”
“You haven’t gotten it wrong. It’s just…” He huffed, trying to find the right words. “I’m crap at this.”
She arched her brows. “At foreplay? Because that’s not the way I’d describe you.”
The corner of his mouth twitched. Just thinking she was on the same page as him messed with his head. Had him considering utterly foreign thoughts. “Then, let’s put that theory to the test.”
He brushed his mouth over hers, keeping the contact light. Drinking in her gasp of anticipation as she held her breath, the hand on his cheek shaking slightly before she closed her eyes — pressed her lips to his.
He lost it, that hint of increased contact setting him off. He lifted his hand from the wall, fisting it in her hair as he ate at her mouth, tangling his tongue with hers until his lungs burned and he broke away. Not that she gave him much time to suck in some air before she took control, her fingers slipping behind his neck, curling in his hair and dragging him closer until he had her crushed against the door, his chest heaving in sync with hers.
She nipped at his jaw, her breath nearly as rough as his as she stared up at him, that stunning blue looking more like steel in the warm lamp light.
She wet her lips, closing her eyes for a moment before smiling. “That was…”
He gave her a fleeting kiss. “Adequate?”
“Hard to gauge. I think I need you to do that again.”
“Your wish, sweetheart…”
He dove in, kissing her harder. Deeper. Taking his cue from every raspy sound she made. A groan, and he increased the pressure. A purr, and he broke off just long enough to nip at the pulse point fluttering at the base of her neck before capturing her mouth, again. Repeating his assault until she had one leg wrapped around his calf, her other hand fisted in his shirt.
He slipped his hand free of her hair then pulled back, trying to calculate how to pick her up and carry her to bed without losing an inch of contact. She looked ready to climb her way up his torso, when both their phones rang, the clashing tones destroying the sensual atmosphere.
She jumped, whacking her head on the door as he nearly fell on his ass, her leg catching him in the knee. He fumbled both their weight, finally regaining his balance enough to palm the door.