Control. I need more control with him.
But maybe this attraction to him is like the ocean. Uncontrollable. And all I can do is let it have its way with me.
It’s not like anything will happen between us, anyway. I hope I’ll never be so desperate as to throw myself at a man who’s made it clear he sees me as nothing more than a brain to pick.
But all bets are off if he ever gives me the hint that he’s interested in me even in the slightest.
I grab the ketchup and swing open the door. My right foot moves forward to lower myself down the two steps outside of my back door to my patio when Junie leaps up against me from inside the house, planting her paws against my backside…
… and giving me a heartypush.
My life flashes before me as she knocks me over. In that split second, my whole body seems to prepare for the inevitable pain that will come when gravity smashes me into my concrete patio.
“Bwhaa—” A strange, ugly sound expels from me. Adrenaline rushes, as though it can somehow protect me.
But it doesn’t have to.
Because instead of falling to the ground, I’ve fallen into Dax. His hands grab me by my upper arms, and I’m in his firm grasp, my chest pressed against his.
I let out a gasp.
My face is so close to him now—so close that even with just the soft glow of the porch light I can see the tiny flecks of black in his dark eyes—the kind of rich color that makes me think of melted chocolate or heaps of aromatic coffee beans, fresh from the bag.
And his lips. Oh, his lips right now so close to mine look dangerously soft and smooth and welcoming and…kissable.
I could do it now so easily, with him holding tight to my arms, holding me up with my feet inches off the ground. I could just edge one or two inches closer and see if hetastesas glorious as hefeelsas he holds me like this.
Hey, Soldier! Pucker up!
I hear the echo of Bo’s voice, urging me to take advantage of this decidedly unique situation. I couldn’t have choreographed a better way to end up in this man’s arms. This isn’t likely to happen again.
But then, just as I’m about to give into lust, he sets my feet back down on the ground.
His eyes widen, filled with amusement as he removes his hands from me. “I thought you said you don’t fall for military guys. Because that was… quite a fall.”
“I said I don’t date them,” I remind him, breathless. “Never said I don’t fall for them.”
Because apparently, I ponder, Ido.
I really do.
I’ve fallen for him.