She had to grip the doorjamb to stop herself from rushing over and biting that mouth.
And now he was just watching her, that cocky half smile on his face. She didnt know whether to punch him or jump him,
“Im not some starry-eyed kid this time around, and… what are you grinning at?”
“Got you over here, didnt it?”
“Well, Im not staying. Im just here to tell you it doesnt work.”
“I missed you. The more Im around you, the more I realize how much.”
Her heart fluttered and was ruthlessly ignored. “That doesnt cut it with me either.”
“What does?”
“You might try straight-up honesty for a change. Saying what you mean without any of the goofy touches. Which are clich?s, by the way,” she added as he stubbed out the cigarette and got to his feet.
And clich?s became clich?s, she thought, because they goddamn worked.
“All right.” He stopped in front of her, hooked his fingers in the neck of her sweatshirt and tugged her forward. “Cant get my mind off you, Dana. I can tuck you away in it for stretches of time, but youre still in there. Like a splinter.”
“So yank me out.” She thrust up her chin. “Go ahead.”
“I like you there, which makes me a glutton for punishment. I like you here, curling your lip at me and smelling of rain.”
He reached up, tugged the band out of her hair and tossed it aside. Then he wrapped his fingers where the band had been. “I want to take you to bed, right now. I want to sink my teeth into you. I want to bury myself inside you. And when were done, I want to do it all over again.”
He angled his head, kept his eyes on hers. “Hows that for straight-up honesty?”
“Not half bad.”
Chapter Ten
HE stared at her, trying to gauge her mood. “If that wasnt a yes” he decided, “youd better run for the door. Fast.”
“It—”
The rest of the words spilled down her throat when he swung her off her feet. “Too late. I win by default.”
She did her best to frown, but it wasnt easy with the giddy thrill pumping through her. “Maybe I only want you because youre one of the few guys who can cart me around like Im in the featherweight division.”
“Its a start. I like your build, Stretch. Lots of territory to explore. What are you carrying now?” He juggled her a bit. “About one-fifty?”
A dangerous glint sharpened her eyes. “You think a comment like thats going to make me go gooey?”
“And every ounce exquisitely packed.”
“Nice save.”
“Thanks. I like your face, too.”
“If youre about to say something about it being full of character, Im going to hurt you.”
“Those deep, dark eyes.” He laid her on the bed as he looked into them. “I never could get the image of those eyes out of my head. Then theres that mouth. All soft and ripe and tasty.” He nipped into her bottom lip, tugged gently. “I could spend hours thinking about your mouth.”
She wasnt going gooey, exactly, but she had to admit something inside was definitely warming up. “Youre better at this than you used to be.”
“Shut up. Im working here.” He cruised his lips over her cheeks. “Then theres the dimples. Unexpected, capricious, strangely sexy. Ive always loved the look of you.”