They practically killed him. Reining in his need was like having a fucking noose around his neck. Made it hard to breathe.Hard to think. But if Sierra needed him to go slow, that’s what he’d do.
Finally, her lips parted just enough to let out a sigh. It was all he needed. Flynn threaded his fingers through her long,dark hair. Took a split second to register that it was just as silky as he’d imagined. Then he tilted her head back and tothe side to make the angle better. And then he really kissed her.
There was pressure this time but he didn’t go for it. Didn’t unleash all the want bottled up inside of him that he’d been resisting for weeks. But he did full-out kissher.
Flynn stroked his pinkie along the nape of her neck and was gratified at the shiver that chased its way down her body. Helicked the sticky sweetness of the honey from her. He pressed and shaped and fucking learned her mouth. Learned what she liked. Learned that her almost pouty lower lip was the perfect place to use his teeth, right inthe center, to make that noise happen in the back of her throat.
Most of all, Flynn learned how mind-blowingly great it was to kiss Sierra. He could do it all night. Christ, he hadn’t evengotten inside her mouth yet, and his dick was already threatening to bust through his jeans. She smelled like the beach, tasted like sugar,and felt like a dream.
Sierra kept shifting in his grasp, little moves that brought her closer against him. Little moves that rubbed her breastsagainst his chest, that made his hand on her waist slip down to the upper curve of her tight little ass.
He tongued along the seam of her lips, prompting her to finally, finally open to him. Flynn’s tongue slipped in and swept up all that residual honey flavor that he swore had to be just her. He pressedher backward until she was lying on the couch and he could press his whole upper body against her. Their tongues swirled together,side to side and around in a dance that turned his dick to pure steel. And even with him lying on top of her, Sierra stillarched up into his embrace with breathy little moans.
Easing back, he pushed the hair off her cheek with one finger. “Do you believe me now? When I say that you’re beautiful? Canyou tell how much you turn me on?”
Red flooded her face. “Yes. Those kisses—they clarified your point extremely well.”
“You liked ’em?”
“A lot. They were very, very good.” Her smile lit him up like a firecracker inside. “Even better than the sandwich.”
How selfish was he, kissing her without letting the woman eat dinner after a long shift? Flynn practically dumped the plateback on her lap. “Sorry. Eat up. I’ll get you some water.”
Yeah, those kisses had been good—hell, great—and yet also very, very bad. Because they were so terrific. Because they made him fucking feel again, like he hadn’t for all the months before coming to Bandon. Made him want to watch over her all night, feed her everyday, and do anything in his power to bring out that smile again. He’d liked her for a month. Wanted her that whole time.
Now? Flynn needed her. That made what had just happened big, big trouble.
Forget that Flynn didn’t deserve a woman like her. Sierra didn’t deserve to be stuck with a guy figuring out who he was now, while living an elaborate lie.
But now that he’d had a taste of her?
He couldn’t let her go.
Chapter Six
“Everyone have enough cake?” Lucien asked, brandishing a long knife.
Sierra ducked as little bits of blue frosting flew off. The birthday cake was quirky and awesome—the doctor’s symbol of acaduceus with a coiled snake, that apparently matched Mollie’s tattoo—but she didn’t want to wear it.
Considering he’d cut slabs of cake big enough to be a meal, everyone murmured they had enough.
Lucien was an amazing host. His family owned the super famous, super swanky golf resort/hotel/spa that employed the half ofBandon that didn’t work at the cranberry plant. He’d shut the whole spa down for the evening and thrown Mollie’s birthdayparty here.
It was the fanciest thing she’d ever been to in her entire life. They were all on lounge chairs with thick cream cushions.Soft fleece blankets the color of driftwood lay across the bottoms, each embroidered with their names. Their names! Sierra had only been invited two days ago, and she still got a personalized party favor. It blew her away.
Bottles of champagne speared out of ice buckets on shiny gold stands. Trays and trays of appetizers lined the marble counter.Sierra didn’t even know what most of them were. Besides utterly yummy, anyway. She sampled everything and then went back forseconds. Once they were finished with cake, technicians were coming in to give everyone manicures and pedicures. All six ofthem at once.
In addition to the birthday girl and the surfer-boy handsome Lucien, Mollie’s friends Elena, Lily, and Karen were there. Andthey were amazing. Or maybe that was the third glass of champagne talking. Sierra was definitely tipsy at this point. But shetruly did like everyone she’d met. Not just because she was so desperately starved for friends. No, she’d connected with them all.
As much as she could.
While deflecting every personal question they asked.
While lying about too many things.
She hated that.
Grabbing a bottle of champagne, Lucien topped off Mollie’s glass. “If cake’s over, then it’s time for presents.”
Her mouth dropped into a horrified O. “Cake is never over, Lucien. Only the first round is over.”
“That’s the dividing line between men and women.” He continued around the circle of women, adding bubbly to their glassesand spreading some winks and smiles just as freely. Sierra had never witnessed a smoother customer. “We eat and move on. Youcircle back and nibble twenty times in an hour. Can’t you just commit to stuffing your face?”
“Funny, hearing the word commitment come out of your mouth,”
