Page 24 of A Taste of Whiskey
Feeling worthy was no longer a problem. But having the love he wanted? That was another story. “It was a long time ago, and I’m well past those bad feelings. I just never want Gus to feel like that, and I guess I’ve always felt like some time with his mother is better than none.”
“Now that I know where you’re coming from, I can understand that. But I’m not going to lie. Tina still pisses me off.” Her expression turned serious. “Is that what the spanakopita was about? Your mother and Tina?”
There were downsides to Sasha knowing him so well. He only made that particular dish, which his mother had made often, when he couldn’t settle his mind. But he hadn’t made it because of his mother or his flighty ex. He’d made it Sunday night because of all the shit that had gone down with Sasha over the weekend. Although he wasn’t about to tell her that.
“No, it’s nothing.”
“That’s a whole lotta malarky, Moore. You don’t spend two hours cooking when that mind of yours isn’t stuck on something.”
“Let it go, Sash.”
“Nope.” She stepped closer, standing right in front of him. “I’m not moving from this spot until you tell me what’s up.”
She was too cute and too damn persistent. He shook his head, trying to school his smile. “Drop it.”
“You know me better than that. What’s got youalltied in knots?” Those last four words dripped with seduction, and she punctuated each one with a poke to his chest.
“Sasha,” he warned.
“Was it because you’re worried about Gus?”
“No.”
“Is it a girl?”
He gritted his teeth.
“Itis,” she said in a singsong voice. “Well,thisis interesting.”
“Sasha,stop.”
“Why? We’ve already established that we’re both adults and we have needs. After what you said in the meadow, I think you know you can tell me anything.”
“Jesus.Can we not go there?” She had him so tightly wound, he was getting turned on remembering how good she’d felt lying on top of him.
“Oh, we’re”—she poked him again—“going”—poke—“there.” She lifted her finger to poke him again, and he flattened his hand over hers, trapping it on his chest.
“Stop.”He stepped forward to emphasize his command.
“No,” she challenged, pressing her body against his. His damn cock stirred. “Do you need me to stay with Gus a little longer while you go out and work off some frustration?”
“No,” he growled, pissed that she’d even offer to hand him over to anyone else when the only woman he wanted was standing right in front of him. He knew damn well he should put space between them, but he was unable to stop himself from stepping forward and backing her up against the counter. “I don’t even fucking like one-night stands.”
“But you said—”
“I know what I said. I do what I have to because, yeah, I’ve got needs, and sometimes the only way to get out of my own head is to fuck until I can’t see straight. But that doesn’t mean I like it.”
Her eyes flamed, and hell if that didn’t make him want her even more.
SASHA DIDN’T KNOW how her legs were still holding her up, but this wasit. She somehow knew in her heart thatshewas the woman he’d been thinking about, and she wasn’t about to back down or run away scared this time. His restraint vibrated between them, and she was determined to sever it. His palm grew hotter on her hand as her fingers moved along his corded chest muscles and brushed her thumb over his nipple. His jaw tightened. He was always so in control, she felt him teetering, on the verge of losing control. She wanted to shatter it, to make him lose his mind and show him she was no longer a frightened or naivegood girl.
She fisted her hand in his shirt, pressing her body harder against him, wanting to behisbad girl. “What is it about this girl that’s got you all hot and bothered?”
He grabbed her wrist, tugging her hand from his chest, and pinned it to the edge of the counter. “I can’t stop thinking about her.”
“She must be awfully special to make you this crazy.”
His eyes narrowed. “She’s one of a kind.”
