Page 18 of Her Ohio Old Flame

“It was my pleasure, and it doesn’t hurt the eyes being around you.”

Asha couldn’t help snorting about that comment.

Zane raised his left eyebrow until it almost touched his hairline. “You do know you’re even more gorgeous than you were in high school, right?”

“If you say so.” She lifted one shoulder negligently and peeked at him from under her eyelashes.

His skin was a warm golden brown from countless hours spent under the sun. It would deepen during the summer months before lightening slightly during the winter months.

Despite herself, his compliment warmed her from the inside out. She took a tentative sip of coffee. It was hot and strong, just like the man who made it.

Her cheeks warmed.

What the heck am I thinking?

“So, do you have anyone waiting for you?”

She shook her head. “Nope. Just me.” She took another sip of coffee. “How about you?”

“Me neither. I guess I never found the right girl.” He trapped her gaze. “Well, I think I did find her, but she got away once.”

What could she say to that? She had been stupid coming here.

I should have left well enough alone! And not have been giving off mixed signals.

When Zane would find out the truth, he would be mad at her. She’d seen the victim blaming time and time again. She stared into her mug, like the dark brew would have all the answers.

“Do you not like your coffee?”

“Oh yes, I do.” Hastily she took another sip.

He narrowed his eyes without comment.

The silence between them stretched, and she tried to come up with a safe topic to talk about but drew a blank. She didn’t want any sexual innuendos between them, and for a moment she mourned losing the easy rapport they’d shared.

I’m to blame for that.

As he finished his coffee, she slipped off the stool. Her cup was still half full. “I should go.”

“Stay.” Rising from his own stool, he curled an arm around her waist and pulled her into a hard body. “Don’t go.”

As she stared into his stormy eyes, images of her naked, moaning, and writhing in ecstasy beneath his skillful hands assaulted her. Her soul yearned for him, and her body ached for him to touch her, to fill her.

Zane flexed his fingers around her hip. “Be with me.”

Although it would be a stupid move on her part, she wanted to give in and answer the need that hummed between them. She wasn’t particularly interested in sex or good at it, but she liked to be near to him and do something about the relentless throbbing.And maybe he would hold her for a while after and make her feel safe and secure.

She swallowed hard. “But…I… We…”

With his free hand, he brought her fingers to his mouth. His gaze never left hers.

“I know.” Deliberately, he brushed his lips over each knuckle, letting the softness of the gesture speak what words couldn’t. “We need to talk. Work through this. Fix what’s broken.”

With a ghost of a smile that made her blood pressure spike, he caught her pinkie between his teeth and gave it a teasing nip.

Surprised, she gasped.

Before she could catch her breath or close her parted lips, he moved forward, claiming her mouth with a kiss that stole everything: her thoughts, her doubts, her ability to resist the inevitable.

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