Page 28 of Catch of a Lifetime
He was worth it.
But this distance I saw in him now was different. It wasn’t involuntary. He wasn’t fighting a physical battle of want versus need. This wasn’t the call of the sea that would, whether he liked it or not, eventually force his return.
He wasthinking.
I couldn’t begin to guess what he was thinking about.
I woketo a featherlight touch skimming up and down my back, and blinked blearily into the pre-dawn darkness of my room. That long, tickling touch drifted to the nape of my neck, became a gentle squeeze, and fell away.
I pushed up onto an elbow and stared down into Dave’s shadowed face.
He was so beautiful.
He made a soft greeting sound, returning my gaze. We looked at each other for a long, heavy moment.
Dave wasn’t human, although he looked like one when he was on land and when it suited him. Even then, you could see the wild, alien intelligence in his eyes.
He watched me solemnly. I frowned.
He made a sound at me that I was almost sure was my name in his language. Ducking down slowly, holding his gaze, I kissed him. He hummed, parting his lips at my demand and meeting the kiss.
No.
No, he wasn’t meeting it. He was allowing me to kiss him. He was accepting it.
I stared at him. “Dave,” I said. “Kiss me back.”
He sighed.
I bit his bottom lip and murmured, “Kiss me back. Please.”
His hands framed my face, and he sweetly, tenderly…eased me away and settled me on the pillow beside him, facing him.
I gaped.
He gave a short huff of amusement, slid a finger under my chin, and closed my mouth for me.
I scowled and smacked his hand away. He caught my wrist and held it.
Raising my brows, I said frostily, “Let me go.”
He raised his brows back at me.
I tugged. “Dave. Let me go. Let me…ack. Let mego.” I tugged and yanked, and even threw my weight backwards. He didn’t move. Just lay there, holding my wrist, watching me flail like a fish on the line.
I went to peel his fingers back, but he caught my other wrist. I froze. My heart was pounding and my mouth felt dry. I yanked both hands. He didn’t even have to tighten his grip.
“Dave,” I said calmly. “Let. Me. Go.”
He continued to watch me.
I was lying on my side, both hands immobilised.
Well. I had feet, didn’t I?
I drew my knees up, braced my feet on his big thighs, and pushed, straining away from him in a furious arch.
I got absolutely nowhere with it. I knew Dave was strong. I very much enjoyed his shows of strength and his physical dominance.
