Until We Touch (Fool's Gold #15)(32)

Larissa understood and respected his boundaries. She knew he was a good guy and that was enough for her.

Conversation shifted to what was going on in town. The Máa-zib Festival was the following weekend and Larissa was excited to see all the activities.

“I don’t get it,” Percy said, after finishing his third serving of food. “There’s a dancing horse?”

Jack leaned back in his chair. “That’s what has you confused?” he asked. “Did you hear the part about some guy getting his heart cut out?”

Percy waved off the comment. “That’s not real, man. It’s like the movies. A fake knife and red food coloring. But the horse dancing is actually horses dancing? I didn’t know horses could do that.”

“I’ve never seen it,” Larissa told him. “We’ll have to go check it out.”

Percy started to say something but the word turned into a huge yawn. Larissa glanced at the clock. It was barely after eight, but she would guess the teen hadn’t slept much in the past few days. He’d been making his way back to Fool’s Gold and then last night he’d been in an unfamiliar place.

She stood. “Okay, go on.”

“What?”

“To bed.”

“It’s too early,” Percy protested. “I’m not a baby.”

“No. You’re exhausted. At least go lie down. You can watch TV or something.” And fall asleep in fifteen seconds, she thought, holding in a smile.

Percy yawned again. “Okay. Maybe I’ll go watch a show.”

He rose and reached for his plate. After carrying it to the kitchen, he returned and patted Dyna.

“Thanks for everything,” he said, staring at the cat.

“You’re welcome,” Larissa told him. “We’ll see you tomorrow.”

He nodded and headed for the stairs. Jack got up and started clearing food. Most of the cartons were empty but a few still had a bit in them.

“Worth saving?” he asked.

“Might as well. Percy will eat them for a snack. Or breakfast.”

“I’m sure he will.” Jack grinned. “He’s a good kid. You have a knack for finding good people.”

A compliment that warmed her from the inside out.

Together they put food in the refrigerator, threw away cartons and loaded the dishwasher. Dyna checked out a few of the leftovers they offered her and daintily took a piece of chicken. When the cleaning was done, Larissa walked to the freezer.

“I think there are some brownies in here, unless you ate them all.”

She searched behind frozen roasts and single servings of her crockpot chili before finding a package of brownies, then bumped the freezer door closed with her hip.

“Perfect,” she said. “These won’t take too long to thaw.”

She put them on the counter and unwrapped them, then turned to get a plate, only to find Jack was right behind her.

Momentum carried her forward a half foot or so, until she was nearly touching him.

Everything about the moment changed. The easy, lighthearted evening they’d been sharing shifted until the atmosphere was so thick, she could nearly touch it. Her breathing stopped as she stared up into his dark eyes. Her skin heated, her heart rate increased and the world shrank to hold only the man in front of her.

They stared at each other for what felt like an eternity. Unexpected need pulsed through her, making her want to close the small distance that still separated them.

This was Jack, she thought, confused and determined at the same time. She knew every inch of him. Knew the feel of her hands on his skin. She wanted that now, but not in the usual way. She didn’t want to give him a massage—she wanted to be touching him the way a woman touches a man. She wanted to be next to him, exploring him as he explored her.

The sexual image was powerful enough to make her knees weak. She sucked in a breath and waited for whatever would happen next. Did he sense the tension between them or would he simply joke about the brownies and suggest they find a baseball game on TV?

His dark eyes were impossible to read. For several long seconds, he didn’t move at all, then he raised his hand and cupped the side of her face.

“Larissa.”

The single word was spoken on a whisper of air. Before she could know what it meant, he bent down and kissed her.

The feel of his mouth was heaven. Gentle, with only a hint of passion. Then the hint grew as the pressure increased. He drew her along with him, building need inside of her.

Without thinking, she raised her arms and wrapped them around his neck. He put his free hand on her waist and drew her against him. They were touching everywhere, hard to soft, male to female. She surrendered to his strength and melted against him, even as their kiss stayed chaste.

He brushed his lips against her cheek, then her closed eyelids. He nuzzled her ear before touching the tip of his tongue to the sensitive skin below her lobe. When his mouth returned to hers, she parted immediately and felt the sizzle that accompanied the first stroke of his tongue against hers.

Heat poured through her, settling low in her belly. Wanting exploded, surprising her at first with its presence, then with its intensity. She had to consciously keep from grinding into him—pelvis to pelvis. At the same time her breast ached for his skilled touch.

The kiss continued—a passionate game of tag, where losing was delicious and winning meant going into overtime.