Chapter 7 #3
He looked down at her and knew his expression was fierce.
“I don’t want to dance,” she said softly.
And just like that, his heart kicked hard in his chest. For a minute there, he’d thought they were on the same page. And after that kiss last night, he had seriously hoped they were. But now…he swallowed hard and realized she was looking up at him expectantly. What the hell was he supposed to say?
“Okay,” he said stiffly.
And then, in a move that took him completely off guard, MacKenzie took him by the hand and led him toward the door.
Wait…what?
And once again, there was a clear path. He couldn’t find his voice until they were out the door and standing in the parking lot. “MacKenzie?” he said, his voice gruff.
She stopped and spun around to face him. “Where are you parked?” She started glancing around the crowded parking lot.
“What’s going on?”
“We’re going home.”
“Um…okay. You didn’t have to leave just because you didn’t want to dance with me. I didn’t mean to be presumptuous or anything. I just thought…”
“Devin?”
“Hmm?”
“Stop talking.”
“What?”
She huffed with frustration and pulled her hand from his. “Do you seriously not get this?”
Honestly? He didn’t. And now he felt stupid admitting it.
“Let me make it easy for you,” she said and then threw herself into his arms. Devin was quick to catch her just as her lips met his.
Her legs wrapped around his waist as she threw his entire world off its axis.
His hands grabbed her ass and held her close, and it wasn’t until he heard a round of applause that he remembered where they were.
They broke apart and both turned their heads toward the bowling alley. MacKenzie laughed and then hid her face in the crook of his neck.
And then he was done thinking about his plans, about her leaving, and just about anything else. With a quick wave to the crowd, he turned and stalked over to his truck and quickly got them settled before heading for home.
Thank God for small town living because they were pulling into his driveway in less than five minutes. Neither spoke. Actually, Devin was afraid to. He didn’t want to break the spell or give either of them a chance to overthink this.
Okay, he was pretty sure MacKenzie wasn’t going to do that, but he might.
So instead, he shut off the truck and climbed out. She met him in front of the hood and Devin instantly clasped her hand in his and gently tugged her along behind him. As soon as they were through the front door, he spun her around so her back was against the wall and kissed her.
Claimed her.
Devoured her.
He lost all concept of time as he just took his time tasting her, touching her. When it was no longer enough–when his legs no longer felt as if they could hold him up–he lifted his head. His breath was coming out raggedly as his eyes met hers. “You sure about this?”
Licking her lips, she nodded. “Definitely.”
Devin took a step back and kept walking backwards toward his bedroom, his gaze never leaving hers. If he touched her again right now, they wouldn’t make it there and he really wanted her in a bed.
His bed.
All night.
There was a small lamp next to his bed that was lit, and that was all he wanted. Once they were in the room, he pulled his t-shirt up and over his head–kicked off his boots. MacKenzie stood and watched him.
He liked that.
“I wanted you here after that kiss in the kitchen,” he admitted. “And pretty much every night since.”
“All you had to do was ask.”
That shocked him.
A lot.
“But…you said…”
She chuckled softly and shook her head. “I never said I didn’t. I just wanted to make sure we were on the same page. But you bolted from the room so…” She shrugged.
It would be easy to just laugh it off and get back to what they both clearly wanted to do, but he wanted to be honest with her.
“It wasn’t about whether or not I wanted you,” he said gruffly.
“I’m just…I don’t normally go for casual…
um…” Pausing, he raked a hand through his hair.
“I’m done with having flings. I’m at a point in my life where I want something more. ”
Her shoulders sagged slightly. “Oh.”
“You’re leaving. We both know that. And I was trying to do the right thing. For both of us.”
Silently, she nodded.
“But the thing is…I want you, MacKenzie. So damn much I can’t see straight. I think about you all day and all night and…”
“I thought you weren’t interested.”
Walking up to her, he took her hand in his and placed it over his straining erection. “Does this feel like I’m not interested?”
Her smile was slow and sweet and sexy all at the same time.
“Oh, I’d say you’re definitely interested.
” Then she moved her hand away and took a small step back.
“But…like you said, I’m leaving. And I don’t want you to regret this, Devin.
I don’t want to wake up tomorrow and see that look on your face. ”
Now it was his turn to smile. “I could never regret this. My only regret is that we’re still talking.” He moved in close again. “How about I show you how interested I really am?” He lowered his head and began to lick and kiss and suck his way up the slender column of her throat.
“I thought you already were,” she said breathlessly.
Then Devin lifted his head and gave her a heated grin. “Sweetheart, that is only just the beginning.”
And just as she had earlier, MacKenzie threw herself into his arms and willingly gave herself over to him.