Chapter 17

17

Okay, this was not exactly how she imagined this resolving itself. Meyra dropped her chips without even realizing it. Then her hands went to his broad shoulders, and she wrapped her fingers around the material of his T-shirt. She was just hanging on.

No one had ever kissed her like this—or at least, if they had, she didn't remember it. It felt good. His lips were warm, not scorching, but still really hot. He tasted a little like soda. She could smell warm man. Like the soap they used in all the guest rooms, too.

It smelled good. He smelled good. Really good. His tongue teased her lips. She gasped. His tongue slipped inside her mouth.

Then they were really kissing each other.

And she didn't want him to stop.

His hands were on her back; he was just holding her against him. Not too tightly, either. She hadn't liked it when guys held her too tightly. That had always made her feel trapped before. She didn't feel trapped now. She wanted him to pull her even closer, tighter.

She liked him holding her, kissing her. She wanted him to do more.

That had her backing away quickly. "I…you really need to explain why you keep doing that."

"Kissing you? Because I want to. Do you like it when I kiss you?"

She nodded before she could stop herself. "I just don't know why you kissed me before and then just left like that. Before. In November."

"I didn't intend to stay gone so long, little one. But…a family crisis delayed my returning. I'm sorry."

Well, she didn't want to pry, but… "Why did you kiss me before?"

"Why does a man kiss a woman he wants?"

She just looked at him as she tried to figure that out. "What exactly do you want from me, Brandt Barratt?"

His hands went around her waist. "I want everything, Meyra Talley. Everything. As soon as you are ready to give it. Now, since I really am not feeling like making good on that right now—considering the bruises—you'd probably better get upstairs. It's getting late. And my willpower is almost nonexistent."

Meyra knew by the look in those blue eyes exactly what he meant. And she wasn't ready for that. She needed to think.

Meyra went.