out of bed and stood, taking up
her airspace.
Icy spikes of longing drove into her as she gulped down her
lust-filled needs. “We have things to do today.”
“I want to do you today.” Joe’s finger grazed over
her breasts.
She tried to remember all the reasons why he couldn’t do her all day. “Do I have to remind you about your promise to show me the
hiking trails in town?”
You are so lame . Self-preservation had her gripping
the sheet tighter around herself and backing away. Her ass bumped into the wall
behind her, halting her retreat.
“I remember.” He stepped closer to her. “But I don’t think
you should hold me to that promise.”
His heat socked into her. Heart racing, she put her hands on
his shoulders and pushed. “Oh yeah? Why?”
“Because,” he said as he tilted his head and nipped along
her jaw, “we were at the beach and you were wearing that black halter top
bathing suit when I said it.”
Leaning away from him—because if she didn’t, that would be
as good of a reason as any—she said weakly, “That’s not a reason.”
“Is so.” Joe smiled and ran his hands up her arms. Weaving
his fingers into her mess of curls, he tilted her head. “I’ve lived with you
for over five years and have wanted you for longer. Do you know what that does
to a guy?”
Ann had a pretty good idea. She’d spent those years
comparing herself to the Barbie doll lookalikes he’d dated. But Ann knew she
didn’t stack up. She wouldn’t let his words and the heated look in his intense
green eyes sway her.
Forcing her overheated libido to cool some, she blew out a
breath. Ann wanted to leave her heart intact, not drop it at his feet. Telling
Joe she didn’t trust him with her heart would hurt him and that was the last
thing she wanted to do. Her inability to forget the past was her issue, not
his.
“Ann?”
The gentle tone of his voice broke something deep inside
her. She forced herself to smile. “I’ve never had to do the walk of shame in my
own home before.”
He moved his free hand and cupped her breast. “You have
nothing to be ashamed of.” Joe fingered the strand of hair resting on the sheet
coving her. “You fulfilled my fantasies last night.”
Heat flooded her face. It had been a long time since she’d
let loose in bed. “It was pretty good,” she said.
“Pretty good? It was great.” He leaned over and nipped at
her neck. “After you started kissing my brains out, I couldn’t wait to bury my
cock deep inside your tight pussy.”
Every hormone in her body did the cha-cha. “If you keep
talking to me like that, we’ll never get to go on our hike.”
“Good. I think I pulled a hamstring last night.” Joe brushed
his lips over hers.
She slapped his arm. “No you didn’t.”
“Ouch.” Joe rubbed his bicep. “How do you know?”
“You don’t break a nail without telling me about it.”
Bracing his hands on either side of her shoulders, he
grinned. “It was the only way I could get you to kiss me.” He nibbled to the
pulse point in her neck. “We will go for a hike this afternoon.”
Oh, screw it. She tilted her head to give him better
access. God, she was so weak. “You’ll miss the football game.”
“Fuck the game.” Joe’s mouth moved down her neck as he ran a
finger through her hair. “I want to see this glorious mass of golden curls fall
around me when you come.”
The rumble of Joe’s voice cascaded over her like a touch.
Every muscle and cell inside her melted. She let the sheet drop.
Joe cleared his throat. “Have I told you how much you drive
me crazy?”
Her heart shuddered. “The feeling is mutual.”
“Good.” He nipped at her chin. “Oh, Ann.”
The way he said her name filled her with happiness and dread
at the same time. She squeezed her eyes closed. This is only temporary . Leave
your heart out of the bedroom .
He took a piece of her hair and drew tiny circles around her
nipple. “The way these soft strands brush over my