Page 73 of Guarding Grace

“I won’t let anything happen to you.”

I didn’t need noble Terry, when I wanted the passionate man I’d tasted earlier, the man whose eyes caressed me this evening. “You know I like you.”

He nodded while looking straight ahead at the screen. That deflatedmy ego several notches, but if he’d changed his mind, I had to know. “When we kissed before…”

His eyes finally traveled to mine, with heat in them. “You deserve better than me.”

Where the hell had that come from? “Don’t put yourself down. I don’t know a better man than you.”

He chuckled. “That only shows you don’t get out much.”

He’d hit the nail on the head with that one.

I’d poured all my time into my business, but a near-death experience made things much clearer now. I could work hard on my business while still making time for me. And now I knew what else I wanted.

I tugged on his arm. “I know enough people to know you’re the one for me.”

He pulled away. “We can’t. It wouldn’t be right.”

I sat up. “I’ve had enough of this shit.” My butt stung something fierce, so I laid back down. “Call Zane and have him pick me up.”

He jolted. “What?”

“You said to get through this we needed to be a team, but you’re acting like I have typhoid, so I want Zane to be my protection.”

“No way.” The heat in his eyes said I’d gotten to him. “You can’t be serious.”

It was time. “After this morning, I want you more than I can say, but if you don’t want me the same way, then I don’t want to be around you. It’ll hurt too much. I can’t die before I’ve even lived.”

“Grace, I never meant to?—”

“Shut up. Did you know that this morning was my first kiss since college? It’s time to man up…” I grabbed his hand and got the same zing as before, the zing that told me I was doing the right thing—right for me at least. “If you’re chicken, call Zane.”

He stared at me a long moment, and then slowly, he brought his mouth near mine. “Are you sure? Because this is a bell that can’t be unrung.”

I could tell the position was awkward for him, but I speared my fingers in his hair and pulled him down to meet my needy lips anyway. “I’m sure.” I shifted down the sectional and soon our faces were upside down against each other, like in the Spiderman movie.

I couldn’t reach his crotch like this, but I did pull his hand down to my breast. The feel of him kneading my flesh ignited the afterburner of my desire. He delved deeper, taking over the kiss, and soon there was no question who was in charge.

He pulled at the hem of my top and his strong fingers slid into my bra,caressing me and tweaking my nipple. Moaning my pleasure, I reached up, but I could barely reach the bulge of his erection with my fingertips.

Still, that was enough to pull a groan from him, followed by a quick yank on the hem of my skirt.

I moaned my agreement as his finger moved inside my panties and parted my soaked folds. I gasped as he teased my entrance and then slid that finger inside me. I couldn’t control my moans as I bucked against his hand, still unable to do more than brush against the outline of his cock.

“Tell me if you want me to stop.” His voice was rough with desire.

“No. I want this. I mean, I want more.”

After today, I did need this. I needed him. I needed to leave the shitstorm of my life behind for a little while. This was the second time today our tongues had tangled, and arguments be damned, I couldn’t get enough of him.

He pulled his hand away. “You better be sure,” he warned.

“I’m sure. Please don’t stop,” I begged.

He sat up and shoved the coffee table away. “Kitten, I’ve been wanting to taste you all day long.”

No man had ever talked that dirty to me. I wouldn’t have guessed I would like it, but I did. The jolt of excitement went straight to my core. “Like I said, green light.”