“Come on, Peyton, let’s pretend we do know one another and play house. I’m taking you home.”
She crossed her ankles, twirled her hair again, and looked down at her nails. “I’m not ready to go.”
He scratched his head, studied her for a long time, felt his dick twitch, and waited. The gnawing sensation he usually had around her didn’t kick in, the one reminding him of why giving in to her advancements might work into a real dumb idea. At least when he felt the hairs stand up on the back of his neck, he stopped long enough to consider what he wanted to do most and why he shouldn’t give in to temptation.
His conscience must have been out to lunch or on an extended break. Either that or her birthday really changed everything.
His dick throbbed as he stared at her chest. Yep, in a matter of twenty-four hours, things definitely changed. He was hungry, and he stared at the source of where he’d find his fill.
With a grunt, Kane walked back in the living area and picked up the remote control. He clicked the television on before he flipped through the local stations. He plopped down on the sofa and rubbed his hand through his hair. He looked like a man ready to stay awhile. The package in his pants provided even better ideas. He glanced down at the bulge and cursed under his breath.
“Peyton, I’m ready when you are. Remember, Vicky is waiting. We need to start home.” He closed his eyes and leaned his head back. Damn her for making his dick hard and double damn her for trying before she even blew out the candles on her birthday cake.
At least then he’d have some sort of proof, something solid to etch in his memory to remind him of her new ‘legal’ status. He refused to feel guilty now and since he decided he didn’t, boy oh howdy, he really needed to get her out of there.
A few minutes later, she tip-toed across the room and he expected her. She started by his chair in pursuit of his big boy toys. He reached behind his head, snapped her wrist and tugged her onto his lap. He meant to stop her, and he managed to do it.
He didn’t mean to catch her weightless body and keep it sprawled across his lap. He didn’t want to make it easy for her to wrap her slender arm around his neck and he damn sure didn’t mean to kiss her.
His lips took control and changed all plans once she melted down his defenses. She locked her eyes on his mouth, her mouth watered, lips parted and well, it was her birthday. He might as well act like Braden and give her everything she wanted. Well, almost everything.
Peyton giggled when she landed across his lap, and she fully expected him to kiss her. Of course he would, she initiated it. She’d tried for over three months to get his lips on hers and failed each and every time. Now, he was there, nipping at her lower lip and tracing her jaw with a hungry mouth. Oh God, she’d never had a kiss like this. His tongue traced over her mouth and those dark brown eyes looked at her with a whole lot of lust. She lost her mind watching him.
His tongue swept along her tongue. Her heart turned cartwheels as he kissed her without enough deliberation to stop the act they were certain to find. What a man, she thought, as she curled her fingers into his blond hair.
She ached for this kiss to continue forever, and she wanted it to last long enough for him to realize he liked her, wanted her enough to take her in the bedroom and strip her down to bare bones. She wanted him to show her what he kept in his satchel. She’d heard stories. She’d eavesdropped in the local shops enough to know Kane liked it rough and wild. She wanted the animal in him to come alive in her.
She clutched him closer, tugged at his shirt, ready to rip it, and right then and there, it ended. He grabbed her wrist and glared into her eyes.
He swallowed tightly. She did the same.
“We gotta get outta here.”
She brushed his hair away from his forehead. “Kiss me again, Kane. Please kiss me again.”
His mouth curved into a wary smile. “Happy birthday, Peyton.” He licked his lips and she thought he might give her one more for the road. Wishful thinking. Instead, he stood and then dumped her where he’d been seated. Then, he strode across the hardwood floors, locked the door leading to the docks and grabbed her hand on the way out. “Let’s go.”
He shouldn’t have kissed her.
The lone thought reeled through his head as he drove them back to the ranch. She said she couldn’t drive because her knees turned to squish and jelly. He made her knees turn to mush.
No, he shouldn’t have kissed her.
Braden and Evan wanted him to keep her away from the house long enough to set up for a surprise birthday party. He imagined Vicky made herself available for the surprise.
His brothers were probably having a field day checking out her ass and boobs. Everyone liked to look at Vicky.
A common tease, Vicky possessed a saucy reputation. If he had to do a teeny bopper, he might consider Vicky. She didn’t live with them. She was safe…and legal. Plus, rumor had it, the girl could blow a man like nobody’s business. Yeah, he’d think about Vicky.
He took a deep breath, let his cheeks fill with hot air and slowly let it out. Peyton laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“You are. Vicky told me about the little charade in the barn after I kissed you on the cheek. She claimed you kicked the barn door, ran your hand through your hair, bit your lip and cursed like hell.
“Did she now?” he felt his lips twitch as he fought a smile. “Your friend is trouble.”
“She said the same thing about you.” Peyton leaned over the console and propped her chin on her hand. “Kane?”
“Hmm?”
“Are you trouble?” With her index finger she ran the tip around the scoop of her neckline and then with the same finger, seconds later, she had it trailing up his thigh. His inner thigh. By the time he pulled off the road and safely made it into the emergency lane, her hand lingered mere inches from his balls.
He held her wrist against his leg as he reached over the steering wheel with his left hand and threw the gearshift into park. “Peyton.” He refused to hurt her feelings but he couldn’t play games here either. If they messed around like this, things might get complicated because he did like it rough, and the games he played were too dangerous for a woman like Peyton.
“Kane?”
“This can’t happen.”
“What can’t happen?” She batted her eyes and smiled.
“We can’t do this again.”
“We can’t go for a drive again?”
“No.”
“Why not? Do I tempt you so much you can’t stand to be in the same car with me?”
“Yes, you do.”
Hell! Why did he have to say it? He bit his lip and fell back against the headrest with his eyes closed. Damn it! He just said the wrong thing to the right girl, and he’d bet money on it. She’d run with it and consider him an open challenge.
Her hand stroked his leg then. “You might like me better than some of those ditzy broads you date.”
“I don’t date.” And he knew damn well he’d like her more. It provided enough reason to stay away from her as much as possible.
“Are you going to tell them you kissed me?”
“No, and you aren’t either.”
“Wanna bet?” She twisted her painted lips into a challenging smile.
“All right, that’s it.” He shifted and immediately saw the only disadvantage in Corvettes. For someone over
