Kiss Me, Katie! & Hug Me, Holly!

attacked life with full gusto, she could only imagine what a fabulous, giving, earthy, uninhibited lover he’d be.

He let out another low, sexy laugh. “You sure that’s all?”

“Yes.”

“The way you’re stroking my plane, Katie, makes me think you’re not telling the truth.”

With horror, she glanced down at her hand, which was indeed still moving over the side of the plane with slow, methodical, loving strokes. With a small, choked sound, she jerked her hand back, but Bryan took it in his and brought it up to his mouth.

“Tell me,” he whispered against her skin.

“M-my thoughts?”

He nodded, and nibbled at her knuckles, then soothed the spot with a soft, surprisingly tender, openmouthed kiss.

She let out a shaky breath, but it ended in an uncontainable moan when his tongue darted out and drew her finger into his mouth, which he slowly sucked while holding her gaze captive in his.

Her knees, which she’d firmly locked at his first touch, turned into jelly.

“Your thoughts,” he reminded her.

“Bryan, when you put your hands and mouth on me, I can’t think at all.”

She’d expected a flare of triumph at that, but he simply closed his eyes, slipped an arm around her waist and dropped his forehead to hers. “So honest,” he murmured. “So sweet. I want to taste you, Katie.”

Quickly losing touch with her rational side, she searched her brain for something to slow down the moment, to give her some breathing room. “You seem to feel that way right here a lot. I’ve seen you in action.”

“What?”

“Holly. Remember that? Her lips locked on yours? Not to mention her legs wrapped-”

“I remember.” He dropped his hand from her side. His eyes went curiously flat. “I didn’t kiss Holly.”

“No, she kissed you.”

“You trust me that much at least.”

“I understand there’s a difference between kissing and being kissed.”

“Do you?” he murmured. “I wonder.”

The sudden flicker of amusement in his gaze confused her.

“Come here,” he said abruptly, and shouldered open the plane. He tugged her along behind him, until they stood inside.

“I’m going to tell you something I wouldn’t admit to anyone else.” He lowered his voice as if he were parting with a state secret, his voice husky with mirth. “I’ve never kissed a woman here.” He still held her hand tightly, as if he thought she’d bolt at the first opportunity. “Never.”

“But you’ve been kissed by a woman here. Is that it?”

“As you said, there’s a big difference between the two.” He leaned back against the wall, put his hands down at his sides, open-palmed against the wall. He should have looked helpless and vulnerable in that position, but he looked about as helpless as a lion out for a hunt. He spread his legs a bit so he and she were the same height, but other than that, he remained perfectly still, not making a move to touch her. “Come here,” he said again.

As odd as it seemed, it excited her, seeing all his strength so carefully restrained. “You…want to kiss me?”

“No, I want you to kiss me.”

Her heart nearly parted company with her chest. She managed a laugh, but he didn’t so much as crack a smile. His dark eyes were filled with the challenge.

Could she kiss him?

Oh, yes, she could, she most definitely could. Slowly she leaned closer, careful not to touch him with any part of her body, though she had no trouble detecting the sudden tension that seized him when she came within a breath of him.

Heat shimmered through her again at the sense of all his leashed power and passion.

“Kiss me,” he whispered.

She did, once, lightly brushing her lips over his. The jolt she felt at the connection shook her to her toes, but she wiped her face clean of expression and leaned back. “There.”

“Hmm,” he said with a lift of one shoulder.

“Hmm, what?”

“Nothing.”

“It’s something!” she insisted. “I kissed you, just like you asked.” Defiant, her body humming, she did it again, leaned forward and touched their mouths together, only this time she lingered for one second longer, unable to control herself. “See?” she asked a little breathlessly, noticing that his hands were now fisted tightly as if he’d had to hold back from reaching for her.

“What I see is that you’re holding back big time.” He pushed away from the wall, setting his hands on her shoulders and putting her in the same position he’d just vacated. “Now.”

Her stomach clenched. “Now what?”

“Now I’m going to kiss you.”

Panic skittered up Katie’s spine because she knew perfectly well she could resist one little kiss, even if her knees were still quaking from the last one, but resisting a big kiss, when she knew exactly how thrilling, how hot, how everything, one of Bryan’s kisses could be…well, he might as well ask her to jump into Niagara Falls without a life preserver. “I’m not sure this is such a good idea,” she said faintly.

His hands had rested on her shoulders. Slowly they slid down her arms to the very tips of her fingers, then back up again, up, up, up, until he cupped her face in his big, warm hands. “It’s just the difference between giving the kiss and getting it, remember?”

“Look, I realize you want to show me that Holly kissing you isn’t the same thing as you kissing her, but-”

“No. I want to show you that Holly kissing me isn’t the same thing as what we shared the night of the Christmas party, when we were kissing each other.”

“Oh,” she breathed, and though she held herself very still against the wall, just as he’d done, she could feel her entire body pulsating with anticipation.

“You’re shaking,” he whispered, his hands on her waist now as he gently drew her up against him. “Am I scaring you?”

“No! No, I’m just…” How to put words to what she was feeling inside when she didn’t even know herself? “I’m nervous,” she admitted.

“Don’t be.”

“Right.” But her voice still wavered with that shimmering, uncontrollable anticipation. “We’re just proving a point anyway.”

“Uh-huh. A point.” His voice was deep, husky, barely audible. Thrilling. His mouth hovered near hers, his breath soft and warm on her face.

She wanted to be kissed so badly she nearly met him halfway. Now, she thought, please, now, but still he just hovered, his gaze steady and intense on hers.

“Bryan…”

“Hmm?”

Do it! Kiss me!

“Yes, Katie?”

“Aren’t you going to…?”

“Don’t want to rush you,” he murmured.

“You’re not!”

“Because you’re still shaking,” he pointed out.

“I’m just ready,” she said. “Really ready.”

“Sure?”

“Yes!”

He came a fraction closer, so close she could feel the heat of his firm yet so soft lips, and she let out a little helpless sound of desire before she could stop herself.