how to take his time and make a woman long for more. Because when he opened his lips and deepened the kiss, she forgot all about this being a first date and looped her arm around his neck, pulling him closer.
He was a good four or five inches taller than she was, and when his arm came around her, he pulled her up so that she was on her toes. His tongue swept in to taste hers. His tasted of rich coffee and man and dark desire. It exploded between them, and before she could sort out any kind of rational thought, heâd lifted her off her feet and cupped her buttocks as she instinctively wrapped her legs around him. A half a dozen steps and her back touched something cold and hardâthe concrete of the buttress.
This was crazy. Insane. But there was no denying that the chemistry sheâd sensed earlier was definitely there between them. His hips pressed against hers and she felt a carnal longing so intense it took her breath away. âMmm,â she murmured into his mouth, and when he slid his wide hand over the pebbled tip of her breast, the sound was replaced by a gasp of pleasure.
Brett let her down slowly, put his forehead against hers and shifted slightly, putting a little space between them. He was breathing hard and she matched him breath for breath.
âHoly shit,â he said, inhaling deeply. âHoly shit.â
Mellyâs voice was shaky. âWell. There was nothing awkward about that.â
âMaybe we should have broken the ice that way. Saved ourselves a lot of time.â She felt his face shift slightly as he smiled.
âIt would have caused quite a scene on Main Street,â she reminded him, her back still against the concrete, her body still humming from the stunning assault on her senses.
Brett stood back, and she knew she flushed again when he adjusted his jeans. âI didnât intend for all that to happen,â he said, apology in his voice. âI thought Iâd kiss you. Without an audience. See if there was any chemistry.â
âTest the waters.â
âYeah. I didnât expect to⦠Well, I donât think chemistry is a problem.â He let out a low, sexy chuckle.
Melly gathered up all the confidence she could muster. âIâm not sorry you did,â she said plainly. âBit sorry you stopped though.â
His eyes held hers for a few moments, as if he was asking her to clarify what sheâd meant. Would she have gone further? Would she have slept with him on a first date? Not here, not under a bridge like a horny teenager. But she wasnât sure sheâd have stopped him from going further either. And if he asked her to follow him to a hotel right now, sheâd be tempted. Mighty tempted. If the heat of that kiss was any indication, sex with Brett was guaranteed to be hot.
The problem with hot was that it was far too easy to get singed.
âI should probably walk you back to your car,â he suggested, and she couldnât help feeling a little disappointed. Maybe he didnât want it to go further. Or maybe he was simply being a gentleman. What a novel idea.
âOkay,â she answered dully.
âMelâ¦â He reached for her hand. âItâs the first date. I donât want to rush things, thatâs all.â
She felt a sliver of relief, knowing that he simply didnât want to move too fast. Back in the spring sunlight, they reverted to polite chat about Gibson, her job, the ranch. Nothing flirty, nothing suggestive. But Mellyâs lips still hummed from his kiss, and the little knot of tension low in her belly refused to go away.
Before long, she was pointing at which car was hers and their steps were slowing on the sidewalk.
âWell, here we are,â she said lamely. She pasted on a smile and looked up at him, feeling increasingly awkward. Boy, it was hard getting back into the dating game again. Other than the few minutes when her hormones had taken over, sheâd
Elizabeth Amelia Barrington