Instead, he reached out, gathering a fist full of fabric of the black, baggy T, and pulled on it.
“Come here,” he said, low and demanding. I sat frozen, my mouth dry as my eyes flicked to his hand and then back up to his face. I swallowed deeply.
My mind was fuzzy, desperate to work but it couldn’t. When I made no move, didn’t pull away in my moment of confusion, I felt the fabric of my top pull tighter. Sean slid closer, pulling me to him as he leaned forward. Removing his hand from the wheel he cupped the back of my neck and covered my mouth with his. I exhaled a long lingering breath as I melted against his body, the slack of my shirt loosening as I slid closer into him. I grabbed the fabric of his shirt in my fist and drew him closer. His tongue teased ever so gently inside my mouth, giving it to me but not his all; it was as if he was dancing, a promise of things yet to come. He let go of my shirt and slid his hand around my waist along my back, causing a tingly sensation across my skin as I knew I wore nothing more than his silky, baggy footy shirt and my knickers.
It was an insanely erotic thought that I felt so exposed to him and yet so utterly shielded under the dark canopy of the gum tree. A moan escaped my lips as his tongue finally pushed deeper into my mouth. I felt him smile against my lips, pleased with my response. Just as I pushed myself into him, silently pleading for more, he slowly drew away. His eyes burned into mine before they fell to my mouth, watching my shallow breaths escape past my kiss-swollen lips. His own breath laboured and I almost felt that I could die and go to heaven when his tongue ran across his lower lip as if savouring the taste of me.
“Now tell me you don’t care,” he said, his voice low and raspy.
I straightened in the passenger seat, looking directly into his smug, brilliant blue eyes. “I don’t,” I said, none too convincingly.
Sean leaned back against his seat, laughter escaping him as he shook his head at me.
“Typical pig-headed, stubborn Henderson,” he said.
My mouth gaped. “That will be the last time you insult my family name, Sean Murphy.”
“Or what?” He quirked a brow.
I smiled wickedly and leaned forward. “Or I’ll bar you from the pub.”
He shook his head. “You wouldn’t do that.”
I mirrored him with the curve of my brow. “Oh, wouldn’t I?”
He reached out and slowly ran his thumb over the seam of my lips. “Life would be dull without me.”
I fought not to bite my lip at the hypnotic feel of his thumb gently caressing my lips. I had to blink to focus. “No, it wouldn’t,” I whispered, my chest rising in small, shallow breaths.
Sean looked pleased with himself, working me like I was putty in his hands. “Fair enough. Run back to your tower, little Amy Henderson. I won’t bother you tonight.”
“Aren’t you coming for lunch?” I said all too quickly, disappointment spiking through me.
He shook his head. “I have a job.”
“But we’re testing out the new menu,” I said incredulously.
“It’s for a mate. You know what they say,” he started up the engine with a boyish grin, “no rest for the wicked.”
I truly believed that, because as far as wicked was concerned Sean was the President, Vice President and Treasurer of Wicked, and that was based solely on his lip service. My heart raced at the memory of his tongue in my mouth.
“Well, what about tonight?” I tried to opt for casual, but I could hear myself, how I sounded. I knew I was coming across just like all the other needy girls. Maybe I had been too harsh to judge all the girls that pawed over Sean; maybe they had been kissed by him and needed a hit like it was their drug of choice. I had actually felt pity for them, but more so for myself. What had I become?
“The boys are coming over tonight for a few beers; do you want to come?” My heart spiked at the invitation. I fought not to leap and shout a resounding, ‘Hell, yes!’
“I’m working tonight, but if it doesn’t get too late I might come out.” I shrugged.
“All right.” He smirked and put the ute in gear. “You better go before someone sees you and assumes you’re an Onslow Tiger supporter.”
“Heaven forbid.” I laughed and slid out of the ute and slammed the door closed.
Sean shook his head in dismay. “Such a traitor.”
I stepped backwards, lost in the moment of watching him back out and turn the wheel. He locked eyes with me and saluted before he pulled around and headed back to the front and down Coronary Hill. I gave a small wave and watched the dust cloud settle and listened to the sound of his engine fade off into the distance. I stood there for the longest time, trying to unravel what exactly had just happened, before I edged my way through the gate into the beer garden. I touched my lips in deep thought, smiling. I had kissed Sean Murphy, or, more to the point, he had kissed me.