“You didn’t live here all your life?” he asked, even though he knew part of her story.
She smiled softly and then tilted her head sideways at him. “Come on, Dale. I don’t like playing games and sure don’t like being taken for a fool.”
She stood up and headed into the house.
The woman had a short fuse, and he wondered what the hell he said to piss her off like that.
He followed her up the steps and into the kitchen.
“What the hell did I say wrong?”
She leaned against the counter with her hands holding on to the edges. Her knuckles were white she was gripping it so hard.
“Talk to me.”
“I think you should just leave. This isn’t going to work anyway.”
“I’m not leaving. What in God’s name did I say that pissed you off like this?”
“I know that you know.”
“Know what?”
“About my past. About my life back in Detroit and how Lena rescued me, and then Kenny, Blake, Bryant, and Quinn adopted me because I was sixteen and homeless. I don’t need the bullshit questions.”
He stared at her. His heart heavy knowing that she was homeless, on the run, hiding from a murderer. He knew that Lena saved her life, and almost lost her own. Such an overwhelming feeling of protectiveness consumed him.
“I don’t know that much. Just the basics of what Matt and Quaid explained. Honey, I’m not the bad guy here. I want to get to know you.”
She shook her head. “Just leave, Dale.”
“I’m not leaving.”
“Why not? I asked you to leave,” she stated, teeth clenched. She released her hold on the counter and stepped toward him aggressively. “I’m not like other women.”
“No, you’re not. You’re special.” He snagged her around the waist and pulled her against his chest. She grabbed onto his forearms, and the feel of her feminine, delicate body within his massive hold was too much to resist.
“Goddamn, woman, you’re sexy when you’re all fired up.”
He reached under her hair to cup her head as he brought his lips down to hers and kissed her.
She only resisted a moment, and then he felt her hand run through his hair as he walked her backward until her ass hit the counter.
He pressed his tongue deeper, exploring her mouth as he used his right hand to press under her dress and against her thigh. She lifted it against his waist with his assistance and he felt his cock press hard against his jeans. She moaned into his mouth.
When he smoothed his hand higher up her thigh to the thin strap of some tiny bikini panties she wore, she tore her mouth from his. Gasping for breath, she shoved against his shoulders.
“Slow down. Oh God, this is crazy. What the hell are we doing?” Her lips were swollen red, her breasts exposed in this position. She looked like a sex symbol.
“It’s crazy, Sage. I feel it, too. I fucking feel it every time you’re next to me. The desire, the need to explore this sexy body of yours.” He moved his fingers higher, gripped her hip, and squeezed then moved them back over to her ass cheek.
She gasped as she looked up into his eyes, so innocent, yet sinful.
“We have to stop.”
“I don’t want to.”
She looked sad.