“Not stalking, following.Protecting.”
“I don’t think the police would see the difference.”
I shrugged, unbothered. “I don’t care.”
She studied me for a moment before something softened in her expression. “You really don’t, do you? You’re actually trying to help me.”
I came around the kitchen island, and she turned to face me, tilting her head back as I tucked a strand of silky brown hairbehind her ear. Her eyes grew darker as I watched, and the air between us became thick with sexual tension.
I slowly brought my mouth to hers, just lightly brushing our lips together. Desire sizzled under my skin. I slipped my tongue into her mouth, swallowing her moan. My hands went to the small of her back, pulling her flush against me, and I knew she could feel my erection pressing into her stomach.
Our tongues tangled until she slid her hands up my chest and suddenly pushed me away. I was far too big to be moved by her if I didn’t want to be, but I broke the kiss and moved back a step.
We were both breathing heavy, and Sarah’s face was flushed.
“I… I better go to bed,” she said, breaking eye contact.
I clenched my fists at my sides to keep myself from pulling her back into my arms. She looked just as turned on as I was, but I wouldn’t force her to keep going. I did some morally questionable shit in my life, but I’dneverforced a woman, and I never would.
But she didn’t turn away immediately. There was a moment, as brief as the blink of an eye, when she hesitated. I knew then that she was conflicted about her feelings. She was pulling away, but she wasn’t sure what she really wanted.
That was enough for me, for now.
So, I let her go, hoping that the passage of a little time would make her see that there was nothing to be conflicted about. Sheneededto be in my bed again. The chemistry between us was too strong to ignore.
I was a patient man, but as I watched her leave the kitchen, my cock tenting the front of my pants, I hoped she wouldn’t take too long to come around.
I poured myself another drink and headed to my library to sit in my chair by the fire. But as I walked into the room, the golden glow of the lamp illuminated Marshmallow, Sarah’s long-haired cat, curled up in my chair. I sighed, not thrilled at the thought of white cat hair on my seat.
But I sat my drink down and lifted Marshmallow out of the chair, placing her on the floor, where she curled up on the rug. I didn’t think much of agreeing to let Sarah bring the cat here, but now I realized it was another aspect of having her around that I’d have to get used to. Just a few days ago, I never would have thought I’d be okay with an animal in my house, but now, it was a sacrifice I was willing to make to have Sarah and Alexis here.
At this point, I was wondering if there was anything Iwouldn’tdo for those two.
I barely recognized myself, but I couldn’t bring myself to give a damn about that. As I settled into my chair with my drink and that cat at my feet, I was content with the knowledge that Sarah and Alexis were safely in bed, where it felt like they belonged.