Much like she had the first time, Heath stood very still, as though he were allowing her to be in charge and set the pace. He kissed her back very softly, and when she felt his lips press back against hers, it made her heart begin to pound and her grip on the back of his neck tightened unconsciously. He pulled her hand around his back while his free hand slid up her hip to the small of her back, pressing her closer against him. She felt his lips part slightly and close briefly around her bottom lip, pulling gently at it. She ran her hand up his heavily muscled back and wrapped her arm around his neck, and for the second time, gathered her nerve. She let her tongue creep past her lips and brushed it against his bottom lip. She felt him pause for a moment, as though he were silently wondering if she'd meant to do that, so she did it again. She felt both of his hands tighten on her waist and a moment later, felt the soft caress of his tongue as the tip of it met hers and stroked it gently. Her synapses exploded at the sensation; just the slight touch made her head swim. Her fingers gripped the hair at the back of his neck and she pulled herself impossibly closer, now intent on nothing else but feeling his tongue against hers again. The force of her eagerness made him take a small step back with one leg to maintain his balance, but he never broke away from her and slid one hand under her hair to grip the base of her skull lightly; it almost felt like he was massaging the base of her scalp and it felt wonderful.
She slipped her tongue past her lips again, and further between his, and felt his mouth open slightly for her. A moment later, she felt that wonderful soft, moist warmth of his tongue as he slid it languidly around hers, a little further along its length this time than before. A strange, warm, prickling heat spread through her at the sensation. In the next moment, she nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt his lips close gently around her tongue and pull. She was so surprised at the intensity of the flare of pleasure she felt from it, she let out a soft gasp. Instantly, he pulled away.
"What is it?" he asked softly. "You good?"
"Good, yes," she breathed, her eyes locked onto his mouth as she leaned in again. She felt him smile against her lips at her insistence before moving his lips over hers slowly in a curious and deeply pleasurable way, a mixture of brushing and pressing and pulling, before he coaxed her lips apart again and teased the tip of her tongue with his, before resuming his place more deeply within her mouth. She wasn't sure how long they slowly and leisurely feasted on each other's mouths; she was losing track of time rapidly and found that she couldn't have cared less than she did in that moment.
Aside from the wonderful things he was doing with his lips and tongue, his hands were alternating stroking and squeezing her, one hand in her hair and one at the small of her back. He stroked her back soothingly, slowly, before squeezing gently at her waist and then starting over. The hand in her hair massaged and tugged, her sensitive scalp tingling at his touch.
Slowly, as though he was trying to not startle her again, he gradually closed his lips around her tongue once more and suckled gently, the pulling sensation odd but pleasant. His lips pulled down the length of her tongue, releasing it at the very tip, before his lips immediately latched onto her bottom lip. He gave her another slow, moist, brushing, pressing, pulling kiss before his teeth nipped gently at her lip and he pulled away.
"I have to go," he murmured, leaning down to brush his cheek against hers, the words reverberating in her ear and his warm breath on her skin making her shiver.
"I know," she whispered back. "Sorry. I didn't mean to—sidetrack you."
He pressed his face lightly into the side of her neck for a brief moment and chuckled, the sound sending ripples across her skin. He pulled away and smoothed her hair away from her face. "Yeah, you did."
He kept her hand in his as he moved to the door. He unlatched her three locks and pulled it open. Once he was over the threshold, he turned to look back at her. His eyes scanned her face, which she knew was still flushed. He reached out and touched her face where her dimples were, then pulled her toward him for one more kiss.
"Good night," he murmured against her lips. "Call you later."
"Bye," she said softly. She didn't want to close the door on him, but she knew he would wait until he heard her lock up. She smiled shyly at him, suddenly unable to meet his eyes or stop smiling, and shut the door gently. She locked up, and listened as his footsteps moved down the hall. She dropped on the couch, stretching out, and her fingers moved to her lips as she closed her eyes.
Chapter Eighteen
Sweat poured down Heath's face as he unconsciously chomped down on his mouth guard, shuffling his feet quickly as his eyes locked onto his opponent. They circled each other in the ring, their movements different as their fighting styles were different, but all the same, they each possessed similar traits. Each moved with his head low, favoring his right side, eyes shifting almost in a mirrored fashion. Their legs took a similar stride length, their feet moved quickly, their fists rose into the same loose guard position. It was like they were brothers.