Well Built (Book Boyfriend #3)(19)

She laughed, the last of those jittery nerves ebbing into a slow, simmering warmth that settled in her belly just as everything and everyone around them faded away. They stared into each other's eyes, and with his arm still wrapped tight around her waist and his fingers still tangled in her hair, the atmosphere between them changed, their mutual desire growing into a nearly tangible thing.

Slowly, she released his shirt from her fists and splayed her hands on his chest so she could better span the impressive expanse of muscles beneath the soft cotton. He was solid and strong and well built, and so deliciously hard, she thought, as she dared to skim her hands a bit lower, until her thumbs boldly brushed across the upper ridges of what was undoubtedly the start of a spectacular six- or eight-pack abdomen. 

A deep, tortured groan rumbled in his throat, and the fingers in her hair tightened. Holding her head immobile, he tipped her face up to his while his darkening gaze dropped to her mouth. His chest rose and fell much heavier now, as if he was trying to maintain a tight rein on his control, and right or wrong, she wanted to crumble that polite restraint.

She was suddenly dying to taste him, and the edgy, restless feeling swirling inside of her had nothing to do with being in the city and everything to do with wanting Kyle. Badly. While he watched, she slicked her tongue across her bottom lip, deliberately tempting and teasing him, and he accepted the invitation and lowered his head, brushing his mouth across hers in a soft, tentative kiss, as if he was giving her the chance to stop what was about to happen. Instead of pulling back, she parted her lips on a sigh and welcomed the bristling sensation of his beard against her skin, along with the seductive stroke of his tongue. Within seconds, sweet and gentle turned into hot, hard, and unapologetically deep.

With a low growl that sent tingles racing along her skin, he angled her head slightly and his tongue swept in and took over. His firm, sensual mouth molded to hers, commanding and demanding-and she could honestly say that she'd never been ravished like this before. The hunger and desire in his kiss were so powerful and heady they superseded anything that had been between them ten years before. This was an adult lust, filled with passion and pleasure and erotic promises. And he was a confident, sexual man who knew exactly how to make a woman ache in the best possible way and all the right places.

By the time he ended the kiss, that persistent pulse had made its way down between her legs, and there wasn't a damn thing she could do about it but squeeze her thighs together in a futile attempt to ease the relentless pang. But later tonight, when she was at home and alone in bed with her trusty battery-operated boyfriend, she knew it would be the memory of this steamy kiss of Kyle's that would eventually get her off. So, at least she had that to look forward to.

He loosened his hold on the strands of hair he'd fisted and brought his hand down to her cheek. His thumb skimmed along her damp, kiss-swollen bottom lip, a too smug smile curving his mouth. "I hope you don't expect me to apologize for that kiss."

She raised her brows, his touch of arrogance amusing her. "I wouldn't want you to." It was the truth. She'd been an active participant and the kiss had been nothing short of amazing, but she also knew it was most likely a one-time, heat-of-the-moment thing. She and Kyle were not meant to be.

His eyes glimmered with remnants of desire and heat. "Glad we're on the same page, Sunshine."

Sunshine. Oh, wow. For ten years, she hadn't heard the nickname he'd given her back in high school, but the intimacy of it was swift and immediate-as was the memory of what it meant to him. That she'd been the one bright spot in his life.

But before she could respond, he let her go completely, his gaze searching her face more seriously now. "The restaurant is only a few storefronts down," he said. "Do you think you can make it there okay?"

She finally glanced back out to the main street, which was still busy, but she was calmer now, and the pizza place was closer than his office, so her choice was a no-brainer. And since she'd skipped lunch, she was getting really hungry. They'd just have to stay there until the activity on the sidewalk and streets died down. Being with Kyle for a few hours certainly wouldn't be a hardship.

"Yes, I'm good," she assured him.

He took her hand in his and gave it an encouraging squeeze. "You got this," he said with a smile that helped to bolster her determination. "And more importantly, I won't let anything happen to you while you're with me."