Page 154 of Blood Moon

“One blockade won’t change.” He pointed to his forehead. “This dent? It’s evidence of the difference in our ages.”

“Oh, for crying out loud. Nine years! Just turned.”

“Who told you?”

“Molly.”

“Man! The lines of communication have been hot, haven’t they?”

“The age difference is a ridiculous excuse, and you know it. What’s the real reason?”

He’d struggled with it since he’d been sitting here. Hell, he’d struggled with it six months ago in this same spot, looking at this person, and wanting her in every way. “The real reason,” he said roughly, “is because it would kill me to have you, and not be able to keep you.”

“Well then, we don’t have a problem.” She slid out of the booth and got in on his side, crowding him into the corner. “I’m yours to keep, John. And I love that dent.” She tilted his head down and kissed it.

He couldn’t take any more. He wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her neck. He said, “I want you, Beth. I want you so bad.”

“You have me.”

“No, I mean right now.” The kiss they shared was ravenous, but only left them hungrier for each other. Breathless when they broke, he whisked his lips across hers. “Let’s get out of here. Get out of our clothes. I want to French kiss you.”

“You just did.”

He nuzzled her ear, whispering, “Not everywhere.”

She angled her head back and looked at him through smoky, topaz eyes, then scrambled out of the booth and retrieved her handbag from the other side.

On their way out, the bartender gave them a thumbs-up. “Y’all have fun.”

“Count on it,” John said over his shoulder. He walked her over to the only car on the lot except for his SUV. He gave her a quick kiss. “Follow me and keep up because I’ll be driving fast.”

When he would have turned away, she grabbed himby his shirtfront. “Remember when you told me to watch myself? You didn’t finish. Watch myself, orwhat?”

“Or I might come to love you body and soul.”

“Oh. I didn’t get to hear that part.”

He wound a strand of her hair around his finger and pulled her face closer to his.

“And look what happened.”