He moved behind her and contemplated her suggestion. But he’d wanted her for so long! It seemed as if he’d wanted to make love to her, to claim her as his woman ever since she’d walked into his office, looking all prim and cute and adorably sexy. So no, they weren’t going to drop this.
“Okay, so we end the trip. But not before I understand what happened. Because as far as I remember, you and I have never had sex. So it seems pretty impossible that you had to break up with your fiancé because of something that happened between us.”
He watched her shoulders sag and her head bow. And still, he waited, needing to understand.
After several long, tense moments, she turned and his stomach ached when he realized that there were tears in her eyes. “Please,” she whispered, “please drop it!”
He stepped closer, rage almost choking him. He felt betrayed after believing in her honesty and integrity for so long. Plus, she wasn’t making sense! He’d kept his hands off of her! He’d wanted to kiss her, to touch her, to make her scream his name! And he’d restrained every urge! Even casual touches. And now she said that she’d cheated…with him?!
“You can’t say something like that and then not explain yourself, Kinsley!”
She shivered, then nodded. “You’re right. I’m not being fair.” She closed her eyes for a moment, steeling herself, then looked up at him. “First of all, I want you to know that I’m sorry. I know that what I’m about to say is completely unprofessional and inappropriate. I would never act on…the things that go through my mind, but when you know the truth, our work relationship will be…different, awkward. So,” she pressed her lips together, then closed her eyes as a tear trembled on her lashes, then slid down her cheek. “Please, consider this my resignation. I’ll even find a way back to Seattle on my own. I don’t…”
Fury poured over her. “The hell you are! You’re not resigning, Kinsley! Don’t you dare even think it!”
“But…you haven’t heard what I’m about to tell you!”
“You’re right!” He snapped. “I haven’t heard your explanation because you’re not telling me anything I need to hear.” He sliced his hand through the air. “You’re not resigning. And you’re definitely not leaving me and making your own way back to Seattle, Kinsley! Just tell me what the hell is going on!”
“Fine!” she shouted, their words shattering the quiet of the morning. “Fine! I want you! Okay? I want you! I’ve been dreaming about you and fantasizing about you!” she yelled, throwing her hands in the air, only for them to drop and smack against her outer thighs. “After we had dinner at your house that night, I invited Carl over for dinner at my apartment. But when he went in to kiss me, I pulled away! I couldn’t let him kiss me because…” she buried her face in her hands.
Lincoln was stunned and…thrilled! But he needed to hear all of it. He put his hands on her arms, touching her for the first time since that afternoon when he’d taught her how to ride a motorcycle. “Kinsley,” he said, griping her arms. “Tell me. What happened when he tried to kiss you?”
She pulled her face away from her hands and tilted her head back, looking up into his eyes. “I couldn’t let him kiss me because…it felt as if I were cheating on you! I’ve dreamed about being in your arms every night. And that night, when he wanted to kiss me, I just…I couldn’t let him.”
He finally understood and his heart pounded in his chest, his body came alive! “Because you knew that you were mine!” he groaned.
Her blue eyes widened slightly, her mouth fell open. “Yes,” she finally admitted.
He pulled her closer. “I’ve thought that too, Kinsley. Every moment that we’re together, and even when we’re not, I’ve thought that. When you went home that night, after being in my home, smiling at me, I was torn up. I couldn’t stand the thought of you leaving my house, going from eating my food and being with me, then going home into the arms of someone else!”
She squeaked slightly and he wanted to laugh. But he couldn’t. Not now. Not after what she’d just admitted.
“You…you feel the same way?” She whispered, her lips barely moving.
He pulled her into his arms. “Yes. You’re mine, Kinsley!” he declared. “Damn it, I’ve wanted you for so long!”
“Seriously?” she asked, leaning into him. He felt her hands touch his chest and he could barely breathe, needing her touch so damn much!
“Yes.” He leaned down, his eyes moving to her lips. “So, you couldn’t kiss Kurt, because you wanted to kiss me?”
Her eyes changed. Gone was the sadness and confusion. In their place was…desire! Damn, she really wanted him? It seemed like such a dream come true, he almost didn’t believe it.
“So, if I were to kiss you now…?”
She licked her lips and went up on her toes. He put his hands on her hips and pressed her whole body against his and…damn, it felt even better than he’d imagined.
“You…want to kiss me?” she asked, her lips trembling slightly.
“Hell yes!” He cupped the back of her head, weaving his fingers through her hair. A moment later, their lips touched. Just briefly. He lifted his mouth, looking at her to make sure that she was okay. The look of awe in her eyes told him that she wanted more. He kissed her again. When her lips moved against his, kissing him back, Lincoln deepened the kiss, angling her head so that he could taste her more thoroughly.
She responded by lifting herself up higher, pressing against him. This time, she deepened the kiss, her fingers sliding higher, gripping his shoulders. He
