To Save His Mate(18)

“Nothing,” Lacy grumbled.

“Sweetheart, you should at least try to look happy. After all, we’re supposed to be a new couple.”

Taking a deep breath and letting it out on a gusty sigh, Lacy turned and offered Ethan a small smile. “I’ll try. I’m afraid I’m a little out of practice, so bear with me.”

“I think some clarification is in order. Do you mean you’re out of practice in regards to dating, or when it comes to being with a man?”

Lacy could feel the heat as it traveled up her neck and settled in her cheeks. Quickly ducking her head—in a totally obvious effort to inspect her dirty shoes—she muttered, “Both.”

His soft chuckle served to help steel her spine, but the feel of his fingertips under her chin stilled her tongue.

“Sweetheart, I find that I like you being out of practice. It means there’s no competition for your attention,” he drawled.

“My case requires my full attention,” she remarked, though the words were barely above a whisper.

“So does maintaining your cover. Now, let’s try something. Come here and put your arms around my waist.”

Lacy saw no real harm in that—not to mention the fact she wanted to be against that hard chest of his—so she slowly moved into his embrace.

“Now, we’re hugging like a real couple,” he explained. “And if you tip your head back like this…”

His fingers were back beneath her chin with his other hand at her waist, and Lacy knew she was in trouble. Her traitorous body was already molding itself to his, and she couldn’t help but notice how well they fit.

As she raised her head, she gazed into his gorgeous eyes, admiring the silvery-blue color as they drew near. A moment later, his lips brushed softly over hers.

“That’s what passes for a nice first kiss, but I believe this was our third, so let’s see what happens,” he whispered, and once again, his lips found hers.

His mouth moved over hers slowly, teasingly, until Lacy opened to him on a moan, her fingers curling into fists in the front of his shirt, holding him to her.

Gradually, his hands traveled up her arms to frame her face as he angled their heads for a more perfect fit.

And, oh, was it perfect.

Lacy was utterly lost in the passion of their kiss when the sound of catcalls and applause effectively shattered the moment.

Someday, she vowed, we’ll really get to find out where one of those kisses can lead.

Before she could pull away, Ethan hugged her to his chest. The sound of his heart racing beneath her ear told her she wasn’t the only one affected by the kiss, and the bulge against her lower abdomen confirmed it.

“Now, that’s how a couple should kiss,” he panted by her ear before inhaling deeply. “Such an intoxicating fragrance.”

What? “I’m not wearing any perfume. It attracts bugs.”

“Mmm, then it’s just you,” his voice rumbled as he placed a soft kiss to her neck.

Lacy felt a shiver run through her and knew she was in desperate need of some dry panties.

“Come on you two. Let’s head out!” Adam called, and Lacy looked up to see that they’d stopped just at the edge of the trees. Apparently, Ethan had just put on a show for his family. Oddly enough, she wasn’t even mad. The kiss they’d just shared felt as if she’d been claimed, branded as his in a way that warned off any man who might show the slightest bit of interest.

“We’d better go.” Ethan stepped back, and Lacy immediately missed his warmth. “Besides, I need to get you back to the model house. I fully intend to give you a goodnight kiss before I leave.”

Lacy decided she could be just as forward as he could. “And I intend to let you.” She winked, satisfied by his wide-eyed look of surprise, and sauntered over to where Adam and Stephanie waited. So what if she put a little extra sway to her hips? As far as she was concerned, Ethan could be just as uncomfortable as she was at the moment.

He’d managed to wake her long-dormant libido, and now, her body seemed ready and more than willing to make up for lost time.

“Wow,” Adam exclaimed. “I was wondering if the two of you would come up for air before Stephanie was forced to perform CPR. Although, two girls in any kind of lip-lock is pretty hot.”

“Can you please flip his mangy ass again?” Stephanie pleaded.

Lacy just laughed, but the sound ended on a gasp as Ethan whispered in her ear, “Now, there’s a lovely sound. You should laugh more often.”

She felt herself blush and was grateful when Stephanie chose that moment to chime in. “Lacy, you should come out with me and Sarah on Thursday night. We try to do a girl’s night at least once a week if we can manage.”