Page 2 of Ruined
As she walked away, a feeling of being watched came over me. I stopped, furrowed my brows and looked around. And there she was; the reason electricity was zipping through my veins.
She was so far away that I couldn’t tell you whether her eyes were green, blue or purple, but close enough that the heat in her gaze was unmistakable.
Or maybe all my blood rushing south had made me delusional.
I didn’t care what it was, and I certainly had no need to find out. Spinning on my heel, I started walking in the direction of the creek. It was the only place where I knew I’d be able to make some sense of my scrambled thoughts.
The sound of twigs crushing beneath my feet and water slowly trickling filtered through my ears and settled in my bones. As soon as I reached the big willow tree, I sucked in a deep breath while my eyes roamed over the beautiful picture nature had painted.
Tilting my head slightly, my gaze followed the enormous branch as it bowed over the water, the tip slightly touching the surface. Above my head the leaves rustled as birds took flight; a few rays of sunlight peeked through the dense foliage, bringing with them a sense of warmth.
I walked backward until my back hit the rough bark of the tree. With a sigh, I slumped against it and shut my eyes. With every inhalation, I did my best to reel in my rampant thoughts. My efforts were futile because no matter what I did, my mystery woman wouldn’t leave me for even a second.
I couldn’t remember a time where a woman was so firmly stuck in my mind. I didn’t know whether to laugh or punch something. “Shit!”
“Easy there, I come in peace.”
The instant her sweet voice filled my ears, my eyes flew open. As if she’d just stepped from my thoughts, the blonde stood in front of me, pearly white teeth digging into the plump flesh of her bottom lip.
How was it that I hadn’t even heard her approach?Maybe I am imagining her?Swallowing hard, I blinked a few times to be sure. Instead of vanishing, she inched nearer.
Up close she was even more gorgeous, more radiant. Big, round hazel eyes pulling me deeper and deeper. My gaze swept over her body, the material that clung to her curves giving me just enough of a hint to what lay beneath. My mouth went dry, my fingers twitching to reach out and touch.
Swiveling her head, she looked at the creek behind her, then the trees surrounding us before pinning me with a heated stare again. “Nice view.”
No, the view is spectacular.
She started moving forward, my heart kicked into gear, slamming furiously against my ribs.Why is this woman affecting me like this?When she came to a standstill in front of me, one breath took her scent straight to my lungs. The smell of apples almost as intoxicating as a shot of tequila.
“I’m Zoe.”
My gaze flitted between her eyes and her outstretched arm. If merely looking at her was causing havoc in my body, what would touching her do? Despite myself, I reached forward and took her hand in mine. Lightning could have struck at that very moment and it still would have been rivaled by the electricity zipping through my veins.
By some miracle, I found my voice. “Eli.” If only my brain could offer up more than a single word.
Still holding on to my hand, her lips curved into a seductive smile. “Oh, I know who you are,Sheriff.” Zoe pulled her hand from mine and nodded in the direction of the reception. I could still faintly hear the music and laughter I’d tried to escape. “It was a nice wedding, don’t you think?”
Because my brain wasn’t functioning properly, my “I guess” came out shorter than I’d intended for it to.
Her eyes widened. “You don’t like weddings?”
I shook my head. Not only in answer but in hopes of regaining some sense.
“What’s not to like?” Zoe shrugged. “Free food, free drinks, and dancing.” Her little wink sent the rest of my blood downward right before her swaying hips stopped my heart.
I couldn’t tell you why these things turned me on, I just knew it pissed me off. I bit down on my teeth. The slower her hips moved, the harder I bit. When all I could do was stare in silence, she stopped swaying.
Cocking her head to the side, she gave me a pensive look. As much as I needed to, I refused to look away. “The strong silent type,” she mused. “I like it.”
I held her gaze as she sauntered toward me until our toes touched. “All that gritting on your teeth,” she purred. “Can’t be good for them.”
My breath hitched the moment she flattened her palm against my abs and dragged her hand up my chest. Keeping her eyes on me, she tapped her finger to the beat of my ticking jaw. “I’ve seen the way you’ve been looking at me,Sheriff.” Her tongue snaked along her bottom lip, I almost groaned out loud. “Like you’ve been dying for a taste.” She pushed onto her toes, her soft curves pressed up against my hard body. “Well, here’s your chance…taste away.”
The resolve that’d slowly been slipping finally snapped. I took her face in my hands and her mouth in a rough kiss. To hell with common sense. My tongue pushed past her lips, the taste even sweeter than I’d thought it would be.
It was one of those kisses that robbed you of your senses and your inhibitions. It took all my willpower not to spin us around so I could have my way with her against the tree. A single kiss had never affected me in such a profound way; I couldn’t even imagine what losing myself in her would do.
I had no idea when her hands had slipped beneath my shirt, but the feel of her palms against my bare skin was the shock I needed to snap out of this haze. Cupping her shoulders, I pushed her back. My gaze zeroed in on her lips — her swollen just-kissed-stupid lips. Everything in me was screaming that I should dive back in and take what she was offering.
I wanted to. Boy, did I want to.
Faint laughter filtered through the air, reminding me of where we were. My blood turned to ice at the possibility of Molly finding me in a compromising position. “That shouldn’t have happened.”
Zoe reached up to touch her fingers to her lips, a sliver of ink on her wrist caught my eye. “And yet it did.”
“I have to go.” I took a wide step around her, but it didn’t stop her from reaching out and curling her fingers around my wrist. Screwing my eyes shut, I sucked in an audible breath.
“Come on, Eli. They don’t even know we’re gone.”
I reached out to run my knuckles over her cheek but stopped myself midway. Curling my hand into a fist, I dropped it to my side and shook my head. My eyes took in her beauty one last time then I tugged my arm free. As I stumbled away, I knew the only way to keep my sanity was to never lay eyes on this woman again.
