It was hard to say which was hotter—Eric in his jeans, polo shirt and wet spiky hair, or the box of variety cheesecake in his hand.
The way his gaze traveled from her head to her toes made her realize the feeling might be mutual.
“I didn’t want to be wrong on the cheesecake, so I got the sampler box. You can have leftovers all week.”
She took the box from him and gave him an approving look. “You might just be the smartest man on the planet.”
His smile faltered a bit as he stepped over the threshold and into her apartment, closing and locking the door behind him. “Or maybe the stupidest? I can’t decide.”
She glanced at him over her shoulder as she placed the cheesecake in the fridge. “What makes you say that?” Though she had a pretty good idea what the answer was.
James.
“Nothing. Forget I said it.”
But that was easier said than done, and now the memory of her ex lingered in the room between them.
She summoned all her courage and sucked in a quick breath. “Look, Eric. I really appreciated your honesty when you told me you were having feelings. I’m not one for games.”
“Neither am I.” He joined her in the kitchen, his muscled body so close she could smell the soap on him. “So how do you feel about me?”
“There are...” She swallowed hard. “Also feelings of some sort.”
Oh, that had been hard to admit. Embarrassing, and so achingly vulnerable to the possibility of rejection.
“Yeah?” His voice dropped an octave on that one word. He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Can you describe these feelings?”
She swallowed hard. “A little tingly all over. Especially where you’re touching me.”
His fingers grazed the curve of her ear and she shivered.
“Ah, I see what you mean.” His head lowered slightly, so their mouths were just inches apart. “Anything else?”
Was this really about to happen? Was he going to kiss her?
“I...” The feel of his breath warm on her lips drove any coherent thought from her mind. “What was the question?”
His mouth curved into a knowing, confident smile, before he murmured, “It’s not important.”
And then his mouth covered hers.
Her knees nearly buckled with how sweet the first contact was. He used his mouth to explore hers. It was a skilled exploration. Soft. Sensual.
It was weird. So weird to be kissing someone besides James, but she shoved that thought out of her just as quickly as it had come in.
She reached out to grasp his shirt, needing to center herself as her mouth parted to his. The stroke of his tongue against hers had a soft moan gathering in her throat.
Parts of her that hadn’t been awake for months—maybe even years—started to wake up again. Her breasts grew heavier, and the ache between her legs more demanding.
She wanted this. She wanted him. Eric. It didn’t matter who he was. Right now he was a very attractive male, and her super out of practice sexual side was responding accordingly.
Eric pulled her closer, deepening the kiss and stroking a hand down her back. When his fingers brushed low on her back, just above her bottom, her body clenched and she pressed herself hard against him with a gasp.
She flattened her palms against his chest, acutely aware of how hard and defined his muscles were.
His low groan sent a thrill of power through her. She was definitely affecting him as much as he was her.
He tore his mouth from hers before pressing his forehead to hers.
“Hannah...?”
“Mmm-hmm?” She kissed the side of his neck, inhaling the clean scent of soap.
“Maybe this isn’t a good idea.”