Page 51 of Bad For Me (Rock Canyon, Idaho 5)

Her small moan against his mouth was followed by her hands gripping his shoulders as she scooted closer to him. His tongue slipped inside her mouth finally and tangled with hers, while his cock strained against the constraints of his cotton boxer briefs and jeans. He’d been telling himself that he had to have imagined how good she tasted, and he was right.

She tasted better.

Sweet with just a hint of tartness.

He sucked her tongue into his mouth before releasing it to run his lips down her chin. Finding the place just under her ear, he left a trail of kisses until he reached the pulse of her neck.

“God, Callie, I want you.”

For a second, her body tensed, but when he flicked his tongue against her earlobe and sucked it into his mouth, teasing it between his teeth, she melted against him once more.

Everett started to ease her back onto the couch, and she let him, her neck tilting to the side, giving him better access. He felt her shiver as he nipped her skin and slid his hand up her body until he covered her breast with his hand. Massaging it through the shirt, he brought his mouth back to hers.

He felt her palms slip down his arms and sides until they began creeping under his T-shirt. Her fingers skimmed over his back, and he knew the minute they met his scars. She stilled, her touch so light it was barely there. He stopped moving, kissing her lightly as he waited for her reaction.

“Do they hurt?”

“No.”

Without another word, her hands were back, firmer as they moved up to his shoulders, and he let out a shaky breath of relief as he kissed her again, harder, desperately. Most of the women he’d been with had avoided touching or talking about his scars, but Callie acted like they were nothing unusual. Her sweetness had him aching to be inside her. He wanted to show her that if she just trusted him, they could be amazing together. In and out of bed.

Moving to the buttons of her shirt, he took the top one between his thumb and forefinger, ready to flick it open and see her. He wanted to pull down her bra and suck her nipples into his mouth. Tongue them into hard peaks as he exposed her down to her belly button.

But one of her hands caught his as she broke the kiss. “Don’t.”

Her voice sounded almost panicked, and he laced his fingers with hers before taking a shaky breath. Sitting back up, he brought her with him. “Sorry. I got carried away.”

“It’s okay,” she said before tucking a few loose strands back. “I . . . I liked it.”

He nuzzled his nose against her ear. “I liked it too.”

She let out a deep breath, like she’d been holding it, and he smiled, playing with her hands.

“I’m not in any rush,” he said.

He didn’t press her about why she’d stopped him. It was only their second date, after all. Using their linked hands, he simply pulled her against his side and wrapped his other arm around her shoulder. She fit perfectly.

Everett didn’t say anything else. He just cuddled her and waited for her to realize he wasn’t going to try anything else. He could tell the exact moment she decided to believe him and leaned into his warmth. Triumph coursed through him at the small gesture. He would win Callie over. He had been waiting years to meet her.

Everett had a feeling that for Callie, he might just wait forever.

THE END CREDITS rolled, and Callie blinked her heavy eyes. It was only nine, but she was usually lying in bed at this time. Turning her head, she caught her breath when she saw Everett’s head tipped back against the couch, his mouth open slightly.

“Are you asleep?” she whispered.

When he didn’t respond, she slipped out from under his arm and climbed to her feet. As she stood over him, she covered her mouth to smother her giggles.

Some hot date, huh? You put the guy to sleep.

Looking around the room, she spotted a quilt on the back of the rocking chair in the corner. She grabbed it, planning to cover him up and sneak out, but as she tucked the blanket around him, she found herself lingering.

If he hadn’t been burned, he would have been almost too handsome. With a square jaw and Roman nose, he was exactly what a man should look like. Not pretty or metrosexual like most of the guys she’d grown up with in California.

Callie hesitated for a second before touching the scarred side of his face gently, sliding her fingers over the ridges of skin. She was drawn to Everett; there was no denying it. He was strong and steady, the kind of man who would put his life before s

omeone he loved.

Like his best friend.