Page 66 of Protecting Love

It was lip action only.

Until it wasn’t. Until it was more.

His tongue slipped in. They tangled and danced.

Her body was filling with more heat than frustration now.

When she moaned low in her throat. When she was ready to put her arms around his neck.

He broke the kiss again.

And this time, he moved back.

Several steps. Cooling them both down.

“Now, I’m leaving.”

“Wait!” she said, chasing him to the door. “Just like that? You’re going to kiss me breathless, work me up, then leave me hanging?”

He laughed, his eyes almost burning the dress off her. “Oh, I’m sure you know how to take care of that.”

“That’s crude.”

“Yeah,” he said, leaning closer. “You won’t be alone tonight.”

Which was something as he walked out her door.

She sank against the wall in the foyer, her legs almost ready to give out on her.

But she pushed herself up, went to her room and got out of the dress, then jumped in the shower hoping to cool off.

Didn’t work.

Not knowing where he lived, or if he was home, she sent him a text.

This isn’t over yet.

The bubbles popped up on her screen. Not by a long shot.

The grin filled her face while she tried to think of the next move.

If she even had one, because something told her, she might have played all her cards at once tonight.

16

HIS CONTROL WAS BACK

“Hey, Dad,” Ian said when Fletcher walked in the door.

The lights were off, the TV was on with some action movie playing, the scent of popcorn, something sweet, and something burnt filled the air.

“Hey,” he said. “What did you burn?”

“Caramel. The first try. The second I got right. I made chocolate caramel popcorn. Try it.”

He moved to the bowl on the island, stuck his hand in, snagged a few and popped them in his mouth.

“Damn. That’s good.”