Page 37 of Someone to Hold

She wipes a droplet off her bottom lip and glares at me. “Do we need to go over the part where you’d have no interest in a woman like me one more time?”

“One more time, I didnotsay those words.” I drag a hand through my hair. “Again, I was trying to be respectful. I didn’t want your friends to get the wrong idea.”

“Those aren’t my friends. Those are school moms.Myfriends are desperate for me to clear away the coochie cobwebs.”

I blink.

She blinks.

“Did you saycoochie cobwebs?” My brain struggles to process the words that just spilled out of her mouth.

Molly covers her face with her hands and groans. “Why am I like this around you, and can I have a do-over on the last thirty seconds?”

“Hell, no,” I interrupt, peeling away her fingers until she meets my gaze. “You can’t say something like that and expect me to ignore it. My imagination is way too active.”

She rolls her eyes. “I haven’t been with a man since Teddy died. Since nearly a year before the accident, if I’m being completely honest.” She laughs softly. “I don’t know why I’m choosing this moment to be honest.”

The explanation is almost as shocking as the term. “Was there something wrong with him?”

“Now you’re just being mean.”

I shake my head. “I don’t mean to speak ill of the dead, but?—”

“No, Chase.” She lowers her hands to her lap. “Nothing was wrong with Teddy. There’s something wrong withme.I know you know it. It’s why you said what you did to the moms. I don’t care that you wouldn’t want someone like me. I swear I don’t, but?—”

“I. Never. Said. That.” The words come out as sharp as a round of gunshots, which wasn’t my intention. And when she looks like she’s about to argue again, I lean over and press my mouth to hers.

The kiss is meant to be quick, but the moment our lips touch, something electric shoots through my chest and I pull her closer before I can stop myself.

I need her to know that what she thinks I think about her isn’t true.

I can’tstopthinking about her.

I also can’t stop thinking that my best friend was an idiot. What a fool I’ve been to let his attitude and my baggage coalesce into judging Molly in a way she didn’t deserve then, and certainly doesn’t now.

“I’m trying to protect you,” I say roughly, cradling her face.

“From what?” she asks, sounding curious but not concerned.

The way she looks at me, like I’m someone worth trusting, makes my chest ache with the weight of all of my many mistakes. She has no idea how many people I’ve let down. The broken promises left in my wake.

How easy it would be for me to hurt her without even meaning to.

“I’m not good for you, Molly.” The whispered words come from some place deep inside me.

I expect her to take me at my word, because I mean every one. But this woman, who has surprised me at every turn, does it again. Instead of pulling away, she leans in closer and kisses me. As if her soft, willing mouth can fill the hollow places inside me.

I take everything she has to offer, then demand more.

Our kisses turn wild and unruly, and I don’t know if the groan of pleasure comes from her or me, but it fuels my need.

Her hands rake through my hair, and I lower mine from her face to cup her generous breasts. Her nipples are hard beneath her thin shirt and the fabric of her bra, and I tweak one gently. But Iwant more. I want to drag my mouth over every damn inch, because I just know how good she’ll taste.

Maybe it makes me a complete asshole, but I also want to crush any memory she has of another man’s hands on her. I want to feel like something as beautiful and real as Molly could belong to me, if only for a few scorching moments.

I still don’t know what the hell coochie cobwebs are, but I’ll take care of those, too. I’ll take good care of her.

I continue stroking her breasts with one hand and move the other toward the waistband of her leggings because?—