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and she’d tutored him in English, he used to enjoy the silences. A strange soul-deep
tranquility enfolded him.
This feels way too domestic. A five-alarm fire went off in his head. Pull back, Dillon.
These crazy feelings aren’t about anything but sex. Keep it light.
They ate dinner in comfortable companionship, while he updated her on what had
changed in town after seventeen years. They traded some old stories that made them
laugh. After they finished putting away the dishes, he offered to make coffee.
While he ground the beans, he glanced over and caught the erotic sight of her tongue
sweeping over her bottom lip. He imagined running his tongue over her plump mouth and
a wild bolt of arousal took control. Fuck the coffee. He turned away from the machine
and stepped closer to her.
An impish glint entered her eyes. “Bitsie told me some tales about you.”
“Yeah?”
“Enough to get you in serious trouble. Like the fact you hate tuna fish sandwiches,
and that bacon, lettuce and tomato is your favorite. That ought to go over well with the
boys at the station.” She patted his arm. “You know, with BLTs being a girly-girl
sandwich.”
Enjoying her sense of humor, he leaned a little closer to her. “Not BLTs. They have
bacon, and there isn’t anything the least girly about bacon. Now egg salad sandwiches are
chick food. I don’t eat ‘em.”
“Yeah, right, buddy. Tell me another one.”
He allowed his gaze to drift down to the delicate line of her collarbone, then settle on
the defenseless looking flesh of her neck. He saw her pulse throbbing against her skin,
and an insane desire to taste her almost made him lean forward.
“I’d like to be friends again. If you’ll allow it,” he said.
“Allow it?” Her question came out sounding sharp. “Why wouldn’t I allow it?”
“You seem a little jumpy around me.”
“I do?” A little breathy, her voice dropped to a mere whisper. “Well, I didn’t expect
to feel this way.”
He was drawn in by the sparkle in her gaze and that little husky intonation in her
voice. “How do you feel?”
Autumn’s lips parted. He fixated on her bottom lip, which was a little fuller than the
upper. When he caught a glance of her tongue, his groin tightened.
Man, oh, man, he wanted her. He could almost scent her desire, feel the way her
pulse heightened. Shit, he was losing his mind with wanting her.
Her lips parted. “I feel…”
“Yeah?” He leaned a bit closer, his head tilting a bit to the side. His hands came
down on the counter on either side of her.
*
Autumn’s innate awareness of him sent a slow and dizzying need through her. He
smelled so good—of leather and a musk that created a potent craving. His gaze
smoldered, his attention disturbingly intimate. She sensed a bridled power within him,
and it taunted her, removed her well-constructed defenses. His dark lashes fanned
downward as he glanced at her mouth. She felt off-balance. Good thing she leaned back
against the counter or her legs would never hold her. She slipped into an overwhelming
need she couldn’t resist and didn’t want to stop.
All around them the music swelled until she saw, heard, and felt it mingle with every
fiber in her being. She’d never experienced a surge of mind-melding attraction this quick
or deep. Jack’s face seemed more compelling than anything she’d immortalized in the
newspaper. His arrested expression surprised and gratified her. God, she wished he’d
touch her. Kiss her now.
Her heart thundered in her ears. She’d never experienced a consuming sexual
connection like what she felt with Jack. Her body burned every time she saw him, her
soul sang with enjoyment. Now, as he caged her to the counter, she felt deliciously
trapped, captive to impulses she feared exploring. Yes, they had history together, but now
his very presence filled her with secret longing. His height, his strength, the gentleness
she sensed he carried. He was all male, but the tenderness he’d already displayed toward
her drew her even closer. Yeah, she wanted him because of all these factors.
“I have a proposal for you. Several proposals actually.” The deep timbre of his voice
vibrated and stirred desire like a tuning fork.
Did she want to know? Autumn placed her palm on his chest and absorbed the heat
and energy. He was so alive and arresting. “Sounds interesting. Tell me.”
He allowed her caress, then reached up and cupped her face with one hand. He traced
one finger lightly over her cheek and a quiver passed through Autumn. “For years I’ve
wanted you, but my fantasies were half-formed. Now that you’re here, I want to explore
those fantasies one by one.”
Sheer surprise and wicked delight fought for supremacy. God, she couldn’t believe
it, and yet she wanted it with fervency. She traced her fingers over his hard pecs,
delighting in rock-hard muscles. He quivered under her touch, and she felt that power
grow and demand attention.
Frown lines creased the area between his brows. “Something wrong?”
At the same time she caressed him, she watched her touch play over his wide chest.
“Let’s say I’m surprised at how fast we’re moving.”
He tilted her chin up, and she had to look into his eyes. “You want to slow down?
Look, I want you, and you know that. But I won’t pressure you into anything you’re not
comfortable with.”
“I’m comfortable with it, but I want the cards out on the table. We have a lot of
history together. I don’t want that to interfere.”
He looked worried. “How would it interfere?”
“We don’t know each other any more. A lot of time has passed, and we’ve changed.
I’ve changed.” She sighed. “What I’m not saying very well is … let’s keep this light,
okay? I’m not going to be in Clifton for long.”
Jack slipped a hand behind her neck and leaned in. He pressed a gentle kiss on her
forehead. “Just enough time to learn what you want?”
Desire warmed her from the inside out. His masculinity didn’t overpower, at least
not in this moment. His tenderness sparked and bubbled in her blood. “Smoke jumping is
my life, Jack, and I’m going back to it.”
His eyes narrowed enough to make her wonder if he believed her. Then the brush of
his lips over her forehead once more stifled the thought.
“Good. You should do what you want. Here’s to the freedom to self-determine.” He
released her and stepped back an increment. “So what are the boundaries?”
“Like I said, keep it light. No expectations. Nothing deep. Let’s explore your
fantasies.” She winked.
“What if the first fantasy is full-on sex? Are you ready for that?”
A delicious thrill ran up her spine at the thought of making love with him. “Yes.”
A wicked smile touched his mouth, and she saw relief flash through his eyes. Good.
Jack returned to his stance—he moved in for the kill, hands caging her against the
counter.
“You won’t know what I plan to do from moment to moment,” he said. “Does that
scare you?”
“Anticipation is the spice.”
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