Page 28 of Kent's Honor
“Before you do that, I need to say something.” He cupped her chin, leaning so close his hot breath tickled her cheek. “I’m sorry. I was just so scared. I had no idea what had happened other than an ambulance had been dispatched to my house.”
“It’s okay. I get it.”
“Do you want to know something crazy?”
“Sure.” She tried to tear her gaze from his dark eyes stained with the color of cocoa on a cold winter’s night, wrapping you with the warmth of a fleece blanket in front of a roaring fire, making you feel as though you were right where you belonged.
“I wondered why you hadn’t shown up at the hospital. When I was alone with Nicky, I kept asking him questions about what you’d done all morning.”
She cocked her head, deciding if she should get mad all over again or if what he’d done had been sweet. “And what did he tell you?”
“Just that you’re the kindest, most generous woman that ever lived.”
“He said no such thing,” she said, letting out a slight laugh, until she realized that Kent meant the words. She cleared her throat.
He scowled. “Maybe not in so many words, but it’s true.” He fanned his thumb over her cheek. “Thank you for being there for Elle.”
They stood there for a long, awkward moment as if they were playing the staring game with flowers and a toy truck between them. His tongue parted his lips as he slowly licked them.
“Sit. I’ll be right back,” she said, needing a little space to calm her raging hormones. He didn’t need a chick throwing herself at him. He needed a friend to lean on, and she could do that. Actually, that was all she was going to allow. Didn’t matter that he made her all tingly inside or that when she closed her eyes, she could see herself in his arms as she gently drifted off to sleep.
Stop that thinking.
She snagged a vase, filling it with water. After arranging the flowers, she turned and set them on the table. Out of the corner of her eye, movement caught her attention.
“Oh,” she whispered, staring at Kent as he sauntered around the table. “Have you slept at all? You really need to get some rest.” Her words staggered out of her mouth like a drunken sailor.
“I’ll sleep later,” he murmured, circling his arms around her waist. “Where’s Nicky?”
“Asleep in his room, why?” She leaned back, but that only forced her to grip his shoulders as his lips came closer and closer.
“Tell me to stop. Tell me that this is crazy. That we should stay away from each other.”
“Okay,” she whispered, breathing in his musky, pine scent that made her muscles turn to jelly. A faint moan glided across her lips.
“I need you to tell me.” His lips were scant centimeters from hers. His hot breath excited her skin, sending messages to every erogenous zone she had.
She shuddered, digging her fingernails into his skin. He held her gaze, patiently waiting for her to say something, but her mouth couldn’t form any words. Lots of people with children developed long-lasting, loving relationships. It wasn’t like she didn’t understand Elle came first in his life, and Nicky in hers. They were two adults, needing adult companionship.
“I don’t want to tell you to stop,” she whispered, trying to take a deep breath, but her lungs were unable to fully expand. “I want you.”
He groaned as his lips crash-landed on hers, his tongue darting in her mouth, finding every hot nook and cranny. His hands roamed her ass, squeezing gently before gliding down the back of her thighs. He hoisted her legs around his waist. “Where’s your bedroom?”
“Behind us. Second door on the right.”
“Does it have a lock?”
She pulled back. “It does, but I’ve never locked it in case Nicky needs me.”
“I won’t stay all night.” He pushed open the door, gently setting her down on the small bed. “So, it will only be locked while absolutely necessary.”
As he attended to the lock on the door, she shook out her hands, waggling her fingers. Goosebumps lined her flesh. At twenty-three, she had very little experience sexually and as she watched the way he removed his shirt, she suspected he might be a master in bed. She swallowed.
“I just thought of something,” he said, his tall, broad body leaning against the door.
“What?” her voice squeaked.
“I don’t have any condoms.” He tossed his shirt on the desk in the corner and planted his hands on his hips just over where his jeans hugged his body.
