A Deep and Dark December(47)
Her smart-ass comeback melted on her tongue under the look in his eyes. Keith had never looked at her like that. Like a man before a buffet trying to decide which delicacy to sample first. Graham’s expression boasted of lingering touches and hot open-mouthed kisses that would leave her panting for more.
“Erin?” he whispered, close enough for her to see flecks of silver in his blue eyes.
“Hmm?”
“Do you think I could kiss you?”
Her gaze dropped to his mouth. She could smell the wine on his breath as it mixed with hers. “I know you can.”
“Should I though?”
“You ask stupid questions,” she murmured.
And then his mouth came down on hers. He tasted of everything that was wonderful and scary. Cradling her face, he deepened the kiss. She wrapped her arms around him and moved into him, wanting so much to be closer. He broke the kiss, trailing his lips across her jaw, his beard heightening her sensitivity. Fisting his shirt, she tilted her head back for better access.
He nipped her earlobe and licked the sting. “I want you.”
His declaration whispered across her senses, igniting little fires of awareness that threatened to burn out of control. She could easily lose herself in him, giving over to whatever was happening between them. She wanted to tell him how much she wanted him, too, but he was doing this thing with his mouth on her neck...
*
Graham couldn’t think. She filled up his senses, blotting out rational thought. He had his face buried in her neck, which smelled faintly Tropical, bringing with it images of beaches. And skin. Lots of bared skin under a hot sun. She moaned as he palmed her breast. Fuller than he expected. She eased onto the counter. He nestled his growing erection between her legs and she moaned again, ripping an answering groan from his throat. He wanted her naked. Right now.
“Oh, yes,” she gasped, pulling up her shirt as though she’d heard his thoughts.
Slipping a hand under her top, he got his first feel of her. Soft. He kneaded the flesh at her hip and imagined gripping her from behind, thrusting into her. Hard. She pulled his head back by the hair and kissed him as she writhed against him, grinding his hard-on until he thought he’d come right there in his pants. She broke the kiss and yanked her shirt over her head. His mouth dropped open. All that creamy skin. He ran a fingertip along the top of one bra cup. She shivered and wrapped her legs around him, bringing him up against the place he most wanted to be.
He was desperate for her. The feel of her against him. Skin on skin. With her legs locked at the ankles, she unhooked her bra and shot it over his head. He tugged his shirt off, barely registering the rip. And then she was against him. Her breasts smashed to his chest. He reached up and cupped her from the side, his thumbs stroking her nipples. Palms on the counter, she arched back. He trailed kisses down, down, down to suckle her gently. She bucked against him, increasing the maddening pressure on his groin. He had to be inside her, already had a fumbling hand on the button of her jeans.
“What’s… that?” she panted.
“Nothing,” he mumbled around her nipple.
“No… oh… ah… yes!” Then, “Graham?”
“Hmm?”
“I think… that’s my… oh, god…”
He lifted his head from her breast. Blinking, he tried to get a grasp on what she was trying to tell him. Then he heard it. He pulled his hand out of her pants and patted his pockets for his phone and then he remembered he’d left it in the car. “Not mine.”
She unhooked her ankles and pushed at him to back up. He watched her jump down from the counter, her breasts bouncing as she ran to her purse. She rummaged around until she found her prize. It stopped ringing.
She frowned at the screen display. “My dad.” She punched a couple of buttons and put the phone to her ear.
His gaze traveled from the crease between her brows to her naked torso. He wasn’t gentleman enough to look away. And he couldn’t summon up any guilt over it. She shoved a hand through her hair, lifting one breast. The one he’d been sucking on. Light red splotches dotted her skin where his beard had been. He liked that. He liked the flush in her cheeks and the way she looked bending over to pick up her bra and shirt. He tilted his head for a better look.
Clutching her clothes to her chest, she straightened. “What happened?”
His gaze snapped up to hers. Something in her tone…
“What does the doctor say?” That crease was back between her brows. “For how long?”
He moved to stand next to her.
“I’ll be right there.” She punched the phone off. “My aunt’s at the hospital. I should go.”
“What happened?”
She shoved her phone in the pocket of her jeans and began to dress. “She’s had a really bad headache all day. Barely came out of her room.” She struggled with the hook on her bra.
“Here, let me… there you go.”
“Bet you hardly ever help a woman into her bra,” she mumbled, missing his frown as she pulled her shirt over her head. Smoothing her hair back, she continued, “Mabel went to wake up my aunt for dinner only she couldn’t. Auntie wouldn’t wake up. Mabel called an ambulance.” She stood for a moment, looking around as though she couldn’t quite figure out what to do next.
“Do you want me to drive you?” he asked.