Page 33 of Corey
Her backside pressed against the counter, and she clutched the dish towel. He was so close she could smell his woody, cinnamon-laced scent. A shaky breath escaped her lungs as he stepped forward, his hands settling on the counter on either side of her, those large arms of his caging her in.
“I’m really fucking rusty, Sera,” he murmured in a low voice.
“Me, too,” she managed to say before his head dipped and his lips captured hers.
???
Sera tasted like hazelnuts and chocolate and a whole lotta sin. Decadent and desirable. Keeping his palms flat on the counter, Corey slid his tongue against hers, enjoying the way she kissed him back without reserve. Latent desire sparked as he explored her mouth, deepening the kiss. Ah, hell, she tasted good—like a piece of heaven—and he didn’t want to mess this up.
Although he’d always considered himself a fairly good lover—he’d certainly never gotten any complaints—his nerves kicked up a bit. Something about Sera made her different from the other women he’d slept with, and he hadn’t slept with anyone in far too long. Yet everything seemed to be in working order, his body reacting to her in ways that made him desperate for more.
But throwing her down on the kitchen floor and fucking her hard wasn’t an option. Not at the moment, anyway.
Seriously, Emerson? This isn’t your first rodeo. Get a grip.
Doubts began to ricochet around in his head, but then she wrapped her arms around his neck, and his hands slid from the countertop to her hips. She was medium height with a slimbuild, and she had to go up on her toes for her lips to reach his. Corey gripped her sides and lifted her up onto the counter. Her legs spread wide when he dragged her forward, allowing him to step closer, and she wrapped those long limbs around his waist, pressing her sex to his.
Fuck.He went hard as steel, unable to control his body’s primal reaction. Breaking his mouth away, he began kissing down the side of her soft neck. Her pulse beat frantically in the small hollow between her collarbones, and he licked it before following the delicate line with his tongue. As he began sucking on the sensitive spot where her neck and shoulder met, biting down on the tendon, a whimper escaped her throat and her hips ground against his, snapping his senses and consciousness back into the moment.
You’re taking advantage of her.
Corey tore his mouth away, his breathing erratic, and met her questioning gaze. Her storm-tossed eyes were a pretty shade of blue-gray that reminded him of the Pacific Ocean, and her cheeks turned rosy as she dropped her legs from around his waist, glancing away.
“Sorry,” he mumbled. “I had no right to do that. You don’t owe me anything, Sera.”
Her brow wrinkled. “I kissed you because I wanted to. Not as any kind of payment.”
That made him feel a little better, but a part of him was scared he’d just ruined the easygoing rapport they’d had going. Getting physical always seemed to complicate things.
His mind went back to when he was active duty. When after a night of too much drinking, he and a female friend crossed a line and everything changed. How seeing her became awkwardand uncomfortable, and how he’d started avoiding the places they used to frequent. So did she, so apparently, it had been mutual. After that, he’d learned some people were meant to only be friends, and that was absolutely okay.
But when he looked at Sera, he didn’t want to only be friends with her. At the same time, he didn’t want to drag her down to his hell. Making her deal with his demons wasn’t a fair thing to ask her or anyone else. It’s why he’d avoided relationships and women for so damn long.
“Even so, it’s probably not a good idea for us to…” His voice trailed off, sounding lame to his own ears.
She forced a nod, sliding off the counter. Avoiding his gaze, she turned, heading for the stairs. “I’m going to feed Loki and take a shower.”
Feeling like an asshole, Corey watched her walk away. His attention dropped to Storm, and he could’ve sworn the wolf was looking at him like he was a complete idiot.
“It’s not a good idea,” he repeated to Storm. “Quit looking at me like that.”
Storm tilted his head, amber eyes bright, and Corey swore the creature was judging him.
Am I an idiot?he belatedly wondered, picking up the dish towel Sera had dropped when she’d wrapped herself around him. It had felt too good. Heaving out a sigh, he squeezed his eyes shut and gritted his teeth, trying to ignore his poor, neglected dick. Palming himself, he grumbled, “This is the only relief you’re getting, pal, so forget about her.”
Snowflakes danced against the window, and he nodded to the door. “Better get out there and do your thing, Storm, because it looks like we’re getting more snow tonight.”
And Corey knew that was all he’d be getting. Because sex with Sera was definitely off the table. No way, no how. He just had to keep telling himself that.
Chapter Thirteen
It took Corey forever to fall asleep in his big, empty bed. He kept replaying the kiss with Sera, and he couldn’t deny how thoroughly it had affected him. He chalked it up to being celibate for the past few years. Hell, who was he kidding? He hadn’t had sex with a woman in almost five years. He’d called himself rusty earlier, but that was an understatement. He felt like an old car whose engine hadn’t been started in forever.
But Sera had definitely given him a jumpstart tonight.
Kissing her—discovering how she tasted, how she responded so effortlessly and the way her body molded perfectly against his—left him wanting so much more. And that was unusual for him. Normally when a woman showed interest, he shut it down fast and bolted back to his mountain fortress.
Strangely, he didn’t want to run away this time. But protecting her was his first priority, and that meant from his ghosts as well as the men after her.
