Standing with his back to the door, his stance easy, Kirk was looking out at the sunset. She slowed as she neared the door, drinking in the sight of the tall, broad-shouldered body, the way the jeans he wore hugged his backside. The man had a great arse, but now probably wasn’t the time to tell him.
Maybe one day, just to see the way his eyes crinkled in the corners with amusement.
For sure, he had a better arse than her own generous one.
As she opened the door, he turned to look down at her and yep, there went those crinkles at the corners of his eyes as he smiled down at her, the warmth that made his brown irises soften.
“Hi,” she said a trifle breathlessly, berating herself almost instantly for sounding a bit like a giddy schoolgirl.
Before she could make an excuse, any excuse, her breath was taken away completely by Kirk leaning down and brushing his lips across her’s. One touch of his lips, one slide of the firm flesh, warm and silky against her’s, and she was lost, all thoughts scattering.
She swayed into the kiss, tilting her head back further as she braced her hands against his chest. One big hand settled in the small of her back, shifted a little higher to pull her in close as he deepened the kiss.
Cripes, he made her blood sing through her veins, made her nerves jolt and spiral downwards, made the pit of her belly pitch. His taste flooded her mouth, his scent flooded her senses, and the sensation of his body against her’s almost pushed her into overload.
The kiss was over before she knew it, his forehead resting against her’s as he grinned down at her. “Hi.”
“Hi,” she croaked back, not embarrassed in the least because she still hadn’t quite got her senses back enough to really care.
“Got you something.” He drew back enough to bring a small posy of roses and daises up to her eye level. “Pretties for a pretty.”
That comment had her laughing and blushing all at once. “You kook.”
“Never said I was a poet.” With a low laugh, he kissed the tip of her nose before straightening and retrieving the wine bottle he’d left on the little wrought iron table.
She took the posy. “Okay, I guess I’ll feed you after all.”
“I passed muster?” Amused, he held open the door and stood to one side.
“You impressed me, I admit it.” Walking past him, she pretended to have another sniff of the flowers but really she was inhaling the scent of his aftershave, a light fragrance that was both masculine and fresh.
“Glad I impressed someone.” He followed her inside.
Opening the hall cupboard, she took out a vase and went into the kitchen. “Oh, Goldie, are you in someone’s bad books?”
“My name is mud with Henny, Penny and Sparkles.”
“What did you do to them?” Placing the posy on the kitchen bench, she filled the vase with water.
Putting the bottle of wine in the ‘fridge, Kirk picked up the posy, undid the ribbon holding it together and handed the flowers to her. “None of them got the amount of time running free they normally do when I get home from work.”
“And they let you know you’d spoilt your pristine record, how?”
“Sparkles went straight into her box when I put her in her cage and wouldn’t come back out, even when I tried to tempt her with a biscuit.”
Molly shook her head in mock sadness as she arranged the flowers in the vase.
“I got hold of Henny and put her in the chook yard, but as soon as Penny saw, I had to chase her around to get her.”
“Let me guess, you ended up handcuffing her?”
“Ha ha.” Kirk flicked the tip of her nose lightly. “I had to trick her.”
“How?”
“Pretended I went inside. She didn’t see me coming back around the front. I threw some scraps near her, she came pecking along all excited like she does, and I grabbed her.” He held up his thumb. “I was injured in the line of duty.”
Molly looked at his thumb. “There’s nothing on it.”
“She pecked me.”
“There’s not even a mark!”
“She assaulted an officer of the law.”
“I’d like to see you take her to court.” Laughing, she carried the vase to the sideboard and set it down.
“It’s a serious offence. Lucky for her I wouldn’t give her a ticket.”
Molly looked accusingly at him. “But you’d give me one?”
He grinned.
“Geez. I have to pay yet the furred and feathered get off scot free.” She pointed a finger at him. “I’m glad they made you feel bad.”
He winked.
That had her heart fluttering. “Don’t try to charm your way out of it.”
His smile was slow and easy.
Shaking her head, Molly leaned her palms on the bench. “Do you want something to drink?”
“Sure. What have you got?”
“Bit of everything. Beer, Diet Coke, Coke, juice, the wine you brought.”
“I’ll have what you’re having.”
She looked seriously at him. “I’m not hugely experienced in fancy drinks. Are we supposed to have it before or with dinner?”
“Fancy?” He angled his head. “You don’t drink wine?”
“I have now and again, but I’m not classy enough to know the correct procedure.”
“Kitten, you’re classy from the top of your pretty head to the tips of your pretty toes.” Kirk kissed the top of her head, slipping an arm around her waist to give her a quick squeeze before releasing her and crossing to the ‘fridge.
“Nice of you to say so.” Molly locked her knees so she wouldn’t slide to the floor in a puddle. “I might even give you dessert.”
“Mmmm.” He slid her a sideways look from over the top of the ‘fridge door. “I do like something to lick.”
Good grief. Her belly flipped right over. “Sorry, no ice cream. Chocolate cake only.”
“Frosting?”
“Yep.”
“I’ll lick frosting off anything.” Straightening, he returned to the bench with the bottle of wine and looked in the cupboards. “No wine glasses.”
“Guess Aunt Julia isn’t into wine.” She was mentally fanning herself.
“No problem.” Pulling out two everyday glasses, he poured a small amount into each and handed her one. “Bottoms up.”
Cripes, that gave her all sorts of x-rated images that he obviously guessed by her expression, because he burst out laughing.
His laugh was infectious, deep, amused, and it made her laugh along with him.
Taking a sip of wine, she rolled it around her tongue, thought she could probably stomach a small amount, and put the glass back down on the kitchen bench. Slipping on an apron and oven mitts, she removed the baking tray from the oven and set it on the top.
Without saying a word, Kirk donned another set of oven mitts and transferred it to the sink. “So, how was your day?”
Surprised, she looked at him.
He slid a glance sideways at her, eyes twinkling.
“Wow, just like an old married couple,” she said dryly.
“Just trying to set a friendly mood.”
“I think that happened when you told me how you favoured your three girls over me.”
“Oh, kitten, never over you.” Taking a carving knife and fork from the drawer, Kirk transferred the roast to the chopping board. “You’re all equal. I don’t have favourites.”
She snapped the tea towel across his backside as she walked past.
He laughed and started carving the meat.
More comfortable with him than she could ever imagine, Molly relaxed and enjoyed herself. Over dinner they chatted about things both serious and amusing, learning more about each other. Finding out that they supported different political parties, this started a lively debate that they finally agreed would never be won. They settled into a comfortable silence as they did the dishes together, Kirk washing and Molly drying.
“Right.” He hung up the tea towel. �
��Break open the chess. I’m going to teach you how to play.”
“I know how to play,” she returned.
“I’m going to teach you how to play properly.”
“I’m going to kick your arse tonight.”
“Promises, promises.” He unplugged the steaming kettle.
The chess game was a mind teaser, Molly finding that Kirk was every bit as good at it as she. Both of them strategised, studying the moves of their opponent and thinking carefully before moving their pieces.
The first game Molly won, the second Kirk, the third Kirk, the fourth was a tie and the fifth was Molly’s game.
“Okay,” he conceded, leaning back on the sofa. “You’re a fairly decent player.”
“Eat your heart out, Goldie, I’m an awesome player and you know it.” Grinning, she picked up the packed game and crossed to the sideboard, kneeling down to put it inside.
“You play better than you vote,” he deadpanned.
“You’re lucky I don’t toss you out on your ear,” she shot back. “Having one of your ilk in my house, it’s amazing I was able to eat my cake. I half expected the cream to curdle.”
“Now your cake, that was top-notch.” He glanced at his wristwatch. “I better go.”
“Really?” Disappointed, she watched as he got to his feet.
“It’s late.”
“Bugger.”
Grinning, he crossed to her, slipping his arm around her waist to draw her close, leaning down as she tilted her head back to brush a kiss across her lips. “Thanks for the wonderful evening, kitten.”
“My pleasure, Goldie,” she murmured. “Absolutely my pleasure.”
He pressed another kiss to her lips, making a delicious shiver go through her. “Cold?”
“Hot,” she replied without thought.
“Really?” Lifting his head, he looked her right in the eyes.
Oh boy. His held a definite heat. His kisses might be a little chaste, but the look in his eyes spoke a whole different story.
The heat in his eyes, the aura of his body, her own attraction to him, had her swaying into him, lifting her arms to loop around his neck. Her reward was the way his arms tightened around her, the spread of his hand on her back, the desire that had the gold flecks in his eyes darken.
This time it was she who kissed him, wanting it a little deeper, a little longer.
He gave it to her and more. At first she could feel him hold back, but when she flicked the tip of her tongue across his bottom lip he opened with almost a growl, taking over the kiss, driving deep, almost ravaging her mouth.
No sooner had she started to delight in it and respond than he lifted his mouth just a few inches from her’s. “Sorry. Are you all right?”
“Mmmm?”
“I didn’t mean to be so rough.”
“You were rough?” she asked dreamily.
“A bit.” His chuckle was husky. “Probably a lot, actually.”
“Didn’t notice.” Lifting up onto tip toes, she closed the distance between them and kissed him again.
Man, he felt so good, tasted so wonderful. This time he kissed her carefully, restraining himself when she knew he could go so much deeper, so much harder. He held her as though she were made of fine china.
“Goldie,” she murmured against his mouth.
“Yeah?” He licked her lower lip, making her knees tremble.
“Are you holding back?”
“Honestly?” He touched light kisses across her top lip.
“Are you ever anything else?” His low laugh was a gust of warmth across her lips, making her eyes open to smile up at him. “Well?”
“Maybe I am. Just a little bit.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want to upset you.”
“Upset me?”
“I know you don’t like any sign of someone taking control.”
“Maybe I’m okay with you taking some control.”
That had the smile dropping from his mouth, his eyes growing serious even as the fire still lay banked. “I don’t know if that’s wise right now, Molly.”
Even now, with his arousal pressing against her and desire simmering in his body, Kirk still thought only of her. It made her feel protected, loved, cared for, but it also made her yearn for him so much more, mostly because…
“I trust you, Kirk.” She met his gaze steadily. “I know you won’t hurt me, I know you won’t force me. I wouldn’t be going out with you if I didn’t.”
He searched her eyes, his gaze intense. “Are you sure?”
“You’re not going to break out the whip or make me bark like a dog, are you?”
“Uh…not in my plans, no.”
“Then let’s go.”
One eyebrow quirked, a twinkle appearing in his eyes. “Let’s go?”
“I don’t do this often.” Taking a deep breath, she stepped back, squared her shoulders and took his hand. “Let’s go.” Without waiting for his answer, she turned and walked from the lounge, leading him by the hand.
He was close behind her, she could swear she felt his very aura surrounding her, caressing her. Even the lights he switched off as they progressed down the hallway didn’t perturb her.
Turning into her bedroom, she let his hand go and crossed to the bedside table, flicking on the Tiffany lamp before straightening and taking another deep breath. Cripes, she was really going to do this. Whenever she’d initiated sex before, she’d been belittled, been - no.
Lifting her chin, she turned to face the man standing not far from her. He watched her steadily, gauging her responses, reading her stance and expression. The golden-haired man standing in her bedroom wasn’t the kind of man to ridicule her. He was patient, kind, with an undercurrent of steel and purpose running beneath his quietness. Almost a contradiction, because his steady gaze held fire, his calm expression couldn’t mask the slight flare of his nostrils, and his easy stance didn’t hide the bulge in his jeans.
“Am I forcing you?” She was suddenly a little uncertain regardless of what she saw and felt. Oh Lord, was she being too bold?
“Molly.” He strode forward, reaching out to take her hands and draw her close to him, looking down at her so seriously. “You have no idea how much I want to be inside you. How often I’ve dreamed of this. How much I want it. I promise I’ll be careful. I’d never hurt you.”
“I know you won’t.” She squeezed his hands. “But I don’t want careful, I don’t want controlled. I just want you, Kirk. You the way you are, how you are naturally. Don’t hide from me.”
“Molly-”
“If we’re getting to know each other, doesn’t that mean I should really know you?”
Lifting her hands, he kissed her knuckles. “Are you sure?”
“Never more so.” She was dead serious.
“If I do something you don’t like, if I scare you in any way-”
“Good grief, you’re not going to turn into a werewolf or anything, are you?” she teased, skin tingling where his lips grazed her knuckles.
“Maybe.” His eyes crinkled at the corners. “But I’ll try not to bite you if I do.”
“I have a rolled up newspaper and I’m not afraid to use it.”
Laughing, he gathered her close, just snuggling her into him, burying his face in her neck and inhaling deeply. “God, kitten, you make me laugh.” His lips grazed her throat, making her breath catch. “Make me smile.” Finding her pulse, he touched his tongue to it, teased it moistly. “Make me hot.” A sudden lick across her pulse, firm, unexpected, making her jump. “Make me want you so damned much.”
Chapter 10
Christ, she was so warm in his arms, so willing, so damned sweet. Every lungful of air he breathed in was scented with her, her skin so silky beneath his mouth, her pulse a beckoning flutter of her desire.
He’d been hoping Molly would allow him closer, had seen how well they suited each other, their easy camaraderie, but there was no doubting the passion between them. She might not realise it
but he saw it in her eyes, in the way she smiled at him, the little touches of her fingers against his arm that he knew she had no idea she even did when she was close to him.
There sure as hell was no doubting the passion on his side. Her laugh, her dry wit, her infectious love of life attracted him like a moth to a flame, and when combined with that lush little body, all curvy and mouth-watering, it had had him waking up with not just morning wood, but a leaking one as well. Not to mention waking during the night with a throbbing shaft and the remnants of dreams of Molly to assist him in relieving himself more often that he’d done since he was a callow, oversexed teenager.
Now, to give herself to him, to want to know him, trusting him, giving herself into his hands, Jesus, was there ever a greater turn on?
Gently he sucked the skin on her neck, feeling her arch back as he strengthened it. Releasing her, he shifted his mouth higher, trailing his lips to the tender skin beneath her ear while sliding a hand up to gently tug the ribbon from her hair, releasing the silken strands to fall around her shoulders and lower.
Taking a handful, he carefully pulled her head back enough to take her mouth once more, tangling his fingers in her hair to hold her for their mutual satisfaction.
Kissed her? Hell, it started as a kiss, ended as a marauding. He took her so thoroughly that she was pressing her hips into him in a wordless, instinctive plea for more.
Lightening the kiss, he licked her lips once, nipped, evaded her seeking mouth to press hot kisses down the other side of her throat, just touching and tasting, revelling in the sweetness of her.
And the lushness. God, she was so lush, so curvaceous. His hands moulded to her sides, slid down to span her waist, the swell of her hips to the small of her back and down to press his open palms against her full bottom, spreading his fingers to grip suddenly, pulling her hard up against him, holding her as he found her mouth yet again and plundered deep, licking, tasting, just wanting to drink her honeyed flavour.
Her breathing was ragged, her hands clinging to him as she kissed him back, seeking to take from him what he took from her.
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