Page 93 of The Mech Who Loved Me
Every little flicker of thought that went through her mind displayed itself on her expressive face. It was one of the things that intrigued him about Ava. He could never resist teasing her, when it was so easy to see the results of his words. Maybe the same vivid pictures weren't running through her head as they were through his, but she was clearly aware of him as a man. Aware of how close they stood. Of how his shirt unbuttoned just low enough to reveal a hint of his chest. He could follow the path of her gaze—and her thoughts—as clearly as his own. He could almost taste her on his tongue, hear the sweet mewls she made as he madehercome.
What a picture the pair of them would make. She in her buttoned-down gray serge, with a froth of lace at the throat, and he in his coveralls, streaks of oil marringhisskin.
Kincaid cleared his throat and let her fingers go. "Sorry. Didn't mean to get grease alloveryou."
She stepped back as if suddenly realizing the impropriety of the moment herself, and examined her fingers. A mere smudge darkened her index finger. "Noharmdone."
He produced a handkerchief, and she gingerly cleaneditoff.
"Well," she said, handing him back the piece of fabric. "Everyone's home tonight, so I guess... I'll be sleepingalone."
He shouldn'tdothis.
But hewantedto.
"Would you like to go for a walk?" he finally asked, staring at her. "A walk?" she repeated, glancing toward the thin cellar window. "It's almostevening."
"I know." He started packing his welding gear away. "Give me time to wash up. I feel like I need to get out of here." Slowly he looked at her. "And I'd like it if you camewithme."
A soft pink filled her cheeks. "Is there any particular reason you're trying to lure me somewhereprivate?"
Kincaid gave her a flash of his usual devil-may-care smile, capturing her fingers in his and dragging her hand down to cup the heated erection in his trousers. Jaysus. His balls tightened, blood flooding through his cock. "I need you to help me examine a crimescene."
"Has there been a crime?" she askedbreathlessly.
"Yes." His voice turned guttural. "A certain gentleman made a promise he hasn't kept, and there are going to be dire consequences if he doesn't change that factsometimesoon."
She glanced up as the floorboards above her creaked. "You wash up," she said, removing her hand with one last lingering caress. "I'll go fetch mycloak."
"Ava," he called, as she turned to thestairs.
"Yes?" She rested one hand on the timber railing, and he almost smiled when he saw the look in hergreeneyes.
"Leave your drawersathome."
* * *
"Where are you taking me?"Ava demanded, her nerves on fire with anticipation. She'd expected a hotel, or some set of private rooms somewhere, but they were heading toward a section of the city she vaguely remembered, but couldn't quiteplace.
"Someplace you've been before," he said. "The place it allbegan."
The place it—She paused. "The GardenofEden."
The place she'd stolen his coat. The place where he'd calmed her after her hysteria attack, and she'd thought aboutkissinghim.
"Are you saying that's wherewebegan?" shewhispered.
Kincaid leaned back in the carriage lazily, his fingers laced with hers. "At least, it did for me. I thought you wanted my blood, but you were overcome with lust. You. Sweet Miss McLaren, who looked at me like she wanted tofuckme."
Ava shivered. "It was all your fault. You unlaced mycorset."
"You were struggling tobreathe—"
"And then you put your coat around me, and all I could smell was yourcologne...."
He nuzzled against her throat. "You like my cologne. I've noticed you sniffing my shirt when you think I'm not payingattention."
Ava pressed her hands against her hot cheeks. "I donotsniff your shirt. I'm a blue blood. My senses are more acute. It's just...distracting."
