Ben was the last man she pictured herself kissing, let alone hiding behind a tree with. But he kept the kiss light in every way. The tip of his tongue flicked along her lower lip and his other hand came up to cup her cheek.
His thumb coasted along the crest of her cheek as his fingers slid into her hair. She hitched in a shaky breath and opened for him. He sucked her tongue lightly before covering her mouth completely. All the while his fingertips slid through the strands of her hair along the side of her face and gathered them into his hand. He gently stroked her hair and continued the easy and thorough exploration of her mouth.
Too overwhelmed to do anything but go along for the ride, she curled her forefinger over his on the floor. She rose onto her knees, bumping into his long legs. He tipped his head back to keep the kiss going and she opened her eyes. She pushed away his overlong bangs, coming up for air and a moment of sanity. His long neck was corded and so intrinsically male.
Stubble dotted his neck, swirling around his Adam’s apple. He swallowed hard as she dragged the pad of her thumb down the column, taking a precious breath that her lungs couldn’t possibly handle. He opened his eyes a fraction. The glittering heat in his deep-brown eyes trapped the rest of her breath in her lungs. She settled her hands on his shoulders, tracing her thumb over his fluttering pulse.
Reassured that she wasn’t alone, and more importantly that she wasn’t doing it wrong, she lightly trailed her fingers along the solid muscles between his neck and shoulder and up. He’d obviously shaved that morning, but his stubble was already there, pricking the pads of her fingers as she traced the strong line of his jaw. She followed the indent of his chin to the shadow under his lips. The patch of hair was slightly softer there. As if he hadn’t quite gotten all of it on his shave.
She touched his lower lip and he opened for her, tipping his chin down to take her fingertip between his teeth. His steady gaze was disarming. Patience was there, but it wasn’t the only thing. No, there was a wealth of heat too.
For her.
She couldn’t stop the curve of her own mouth. When had a man ever looked at her like that? The power of it ticked her heart rate up until her breath quickened. Wanting a taste, needing a taste of something that thrilling, she pressed her mouth to his. The tip of her tongue found his, but instead of falling into the kiss this time, she teased him.
Gaining confidence, she did the sucking this time, drawing him deeper into her mouth. Sliding against the side of his tongue, she was the explorer. Cinnamon burned her tongue the deeper she went. He’d been chewing gum recently. So ordinary, but the peppery bite kicked her into gear. She drove her fingers into his hair and sealed her mouth to his.
He slid his arm around her waist as the kiss went deeper, pulling her tighter to him. She’d never been kissed like this in her life. As if she were precious and delicious at the same time.
Her name buzzed from his throat before she felt it on her tongue. Deep and growling with an edge of something more. Something she’d never tasted. Men didn’t get riled up for her. She simply didn’t incite passion.
She pulled back.
But instead of letting her go, his even white teeth nipped at her chin as his fingers gripped her hair and dragged her back down. Slanting lips and clicking teeth replaced the first kiss. He pulled her into his lap until she straddled him and he cradled her against his chest.
Her palm slapped against the wall and the tree shuddered as her shoulder bumped a branch. Still he didn’t stop. And she was too far gone to care where they were. The kiss went from meadow-picnic sweet to black silk sheets and sweat within moments. The puzzle pieces had snapped together, flush and perfect. And it was amazing.
His grip was almost bruising, but it only pushed her harder. Made her want more. She could feel the press of his zipper against her slacks. The bulge of a man not the least bit unfazed by her kiss. No, there was clear want as her heart slammed against her chest. Was it just hers? The tumultuous beat couldn’t be just her.
The tablet at her hip beeped. She pulled back instantly.
“Don’t.” He sighed and tipped his head back when she unlocked it and flipped open the cover. She was officially off shift, but it was Miriam. She was coming up to check in with them.
“I’m sorry. It’s Miriam.”
He shimmied his hand up between them and cupped her face, pushing her back and yet holding her tighter at the same time. “Her timing blows.”
“I shouldn’t be making out in the corner like a teenager.”
He nuzzled along her neck. “Being bad feels good though.”
She closed her eyes. Gosh, did it ever. But this was her career on the line. “You make it a habit, Mr. Hartley?”
He leaned back, the cool white of the lights accentuating the shadows and angles of his face. He was incredibly good-looking. The kind of good-looking that made a woman feel as average as copy paper beside him. She tried to shimmy back a little but he held on tight. “I haven’t wanted to touch a woman for a few months until just now.”
She searched his eyes. The deep brown had little tiny flecks of gold in them. Almost imperceptible until she was—oh, say three inches away. “Bad breakup?”
“You could say that.”
“I…” She what? She couldn’t say she didn’t want him to kiss her again. That was a damn lie. “I liked this.”
“I think like is an understatement.” He shifted under her and her eyes widened. That quirk to his mouth was back. “Sorry.”
“Uh huh.”
He leaned up with a laugh and nipped her bottom lip. “I really do like kissing you, Miss Tucker.”
She couldn’t stop the smile. “Ditto.”