“Nothing silly about that.”
“The truth is…” Look at me, spilling it all out. She never spoke badly about her family. It just wasn’t done. Her gaze cut over to him, worried she’d find judgment or…disgust. Instead, she found patience and…affection. And it just made her heart swell. “My parents are waiting for me to come crawling back.”
“To marry Cameron?”
“That would certainly be ideal, but also, they want me to experience the real world so I can find out how horrible it is. Then, I’ll come back home and wind up marrying the right man.”
“What if you don’t fail?”
“I wait tables in a diner.”
“For now. But what if you get this job at the foundation, and it leads to something bigger? What if you’re okay living on your own, just not on their scale? Would that be enough for you? Or do you need what you grew up with?”
“They would feel sorry for me.” He scowled, and she instantly regretted speaking badly of her family. “I love my parents. Andrew’s a very good man. I came into his life when I was five, and he’s always treated me like his own daughter. And all my mum ever wanted was for us to be a proper family. But being part of Andrew’s world comes with expectations. There’s no higher goal than to mix with the most influential people in England.”
“I don’t get that. They’re making friends based on bank accounts.”
“Yes, you’re right.” She gave him an appreciative smile. “I’ve never talked about these things with anyone.”
“I’ve got you.” He held her gaze, his tone firm.
“I believe you.” Affection rushed over her, making her warm and happy. “I’ve talked more to you today than I ever did with Cameron in three years. Well, I mean, of course we talked.”
“But not about things that matter.”
“Yes. I never felt anything like this with him.” And so he didn’t get uncomfortable and think she was interested in anything romantic, she kept the focus on Cameron. “Imagine if I’d married him. How lonely I’d be.”
“You don’t feel lonely when you’re with me? A total stranger?”
“No. Isn’t that the strangest thing? I’m so out of place on this ranch, but when I’m with you, I don’t feel lonely at all. It’s like, now that I’m here, stripped of everything I am in London—a Crutchley, a waitress, a roommate—I find myself craving things I didn’t even know I wanted.”
“Yeah?” His voice deepened, grew dark and sultry. “Like what?”
I want to kiss you.
I want your hands on my body and your tongue in secret places nobody’s ever explored. “I want to feel things I’ve never felt.”
“I’m listening.”
“I’ve never liked kissing before. But I know now it’s because I wasn’t attracted to Cameron the way I should’ve been. I’ve never felt wild abandon. I’ve never wanted someone so badly I lost my mind.”
He sat forward, bringing their faces closer, their mouths a whisper apart. “Never?”
“Not until this moment.” The thrill of it set her heart racing.
“So, what’re you going to do about it?”
“Well, I’m in the Wild, Wild West, aren’t I? I’m going to be an outlaw and kiss you. Right now.” In that moment, there was nothing more important than touching her lips to his.
And so, she did. How such a soft, simple gesture could make her heart thunder, she had no idea. She shoved her hands under her thighs to keep from touching that warm skin, the hard muscles. A low current of electricity ran through her, and it all just felt so delicious, so lovely, so perfect.
Had she ever had such a sweet kiss that felt so incredibly hot?
But then, he licked the seam of her mouth, and she burst into flames. His tongue coaxed hers into play, enticing her into a sexy, slow dance. Desperate for more, she wrapped her arms around his neck, shimmying closer until her breasts met his hard chest.
His big hand cupped the back of her head, his possession so exciting she trembled from deep within. His other arm banded around her waist, and she was positive she’d never felt more wanted in her entire life. He kissed like she’d only ever seen in movies, with a passion of a couple deeply, wildly in love. His mouth was hot, indescribably soft, and his tongue tangled with hers.
She lost her mind to the minty taste of him, the clutch of his big hands, as though making sure he got to keep her. When he growled, gripping her ass, and hauling her onto his lap, the kiss turned carnal. Her hands fisted in his hair, and she rubbed against him, all over him, trying to get closer, to relieve the ache throbbing between her legs.
A desperate yearning unlike anything she’d ever experienced had her grinding on his very hard, thick cock.
Toppling her onto the chair, he swung a leg over her hips so he could straddle her, but the ottoman shifted, and her bottom landed on the hardwood floor.
With her legs pitched high, her body bent into a V, she looked ridiculous, and they both burst out laughing. “Oh, my God.” Bracing her hands on the leather club chair, she heaved herself up, trying to find her footing without elbowing his balls.
He lifted her onto the chair and collapsed beside her. To see that rugged, serious man laughing…it just undid her.
He was dark, deep, and thoughtful, honorable, and so very kind. And she was helplessly drawn to him.
As their laughter died down, she touched her fingertips to her tingling lips and smiled. “I’ve never been kissed like that.” She stood on wobbly legs. “Thank you for that. I promise it’ll never happen again.”
Chapter Nine
Damn right it’ll never happen again.
Declan dropped the blueberries into the blender. He’d had a shitty night’s sleep. And since when did he get all worked up over a kiss? Not since ninth grade when Missy Babcock and her friends came to the field after school to watch them ride their dirt bikes.
After everyone had left, she’d pulled him behind a tree and stuck her tongue in his mouth. He hadn’t known what to make of the whole experience—he’d never thought of Missy like that. Until she’d showed him her tits. He got it after that.
With Phinny…it was different. It was something about her.
After slicing frozen bananas, he poured in almond milk.
Even though he’d showered this morning, he swore her scent still lingered on him. Or maybe it was in the air. Taunting him. Torturing him. Getting him all worked up. It reminded him of her silky hair brushing over his chest and arms.
Blood rushed to his cock.
Nope. Not going there. He’d fantasized about her all night long, imagining sliding between her cool sheets, breathing in that sweet, fresh, expensive scent, getting his hands on all that smooth, soft skin. He’d pictured nuzzling her neck to wake her up, seeing that smile, the happiness in her eyes that lit him up, and her rolling onto her back to welcome him. He could see it so clearly, moving over her, the way she’d shift her thighs open for him. She’d clutch his ass urging him to fuck her harder.
Every time he’d drift off, the imagined sensation of her slick heat on the tip of his cock would send a shock through him, jolting him awake. His favorite fantasy was getting in the shower with her. Gliding his soapy hands up her stomach to cup her breasts. Fuck. He could feel her nipples beading in his palms, the restless swish of hips as she reached for his cock and—