“Like hopping on a plane to Bumfuck, Nebraska?”
“Yeah. Would’ve been faster to drive. I had to get a damn rental car anyway.”
“I could’ve told you that.”
He made an annoyed noise. “I wouldn’t have had to fly if you’d told me what was goin’ on. Then I would’ve driven with you.”
“I can’t believe you’re here.” Molly turned her head and kissed the inside of his wrist. Then she looked at him. “Hey. Wait a second. How did you get into my room?”
“Told the chick at the front desk you’re my girlfriend. I said you were so upset, you left Denver damn near in the middle of the night and forgot to tell me where you were staying.”
Who said small towns weren’t dangerous? “What was she thinking? Giving a big, mean-looking, tattooed badass access to my room?”
His full lips formed a smile. “Her husband checked me out. I assured them I wasn’t here to hurt you and you’d be happy to see me.” Deacon bent down, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Don’t make a liar outta me, babe. You are happy to see me, right?”
She said yes without hesitation.
Then Deacon’s mouth was on hers. He kissed her slowly, steadily, and sweetly. She teared up, grateful for his tender concern.
Tender concern? The man probably dropped two grand getting here on such short notice.
Molly broke the kiss and tried to get away from him.
But his arms just clamped around her more tightly. “Don’t.”
“Deacon—”
“Lemme hold you and say what I need to.”
She stopped struggling.
“Know what I thought when I couldn’t get in touch with you? That we were done. You were freaked-out and disgusted by what happened in your bedroom Saturday night.”
Since Deacon always acted so cool and confident, she’d never considered he might need reassurance that his sexual quirks hadn’t sent her running from him. “Saturday night was hot. I wanted that from you. No regrets on my side, Deacon.”
“But?”
“But we’ve had two dates. I wouldn’t ask you to drop everything and come to Nebraska with me, a woman you’re not even sleeping with.”
He stretched his fingers beneath her jaw, lifting her head so his gaze bored into hers. “We’re involved.”
“I know.”
“Then you also know that I want to fuck you until you can’t move.”
Need spread in a rush of heat from her core outward, warming her body from the inside out.
His thumb grazed the underside of her jaw in an erotic arc. “But that ain’t the only reason I’m with you or that I’m here. So fair warning. I won’t take advantage of you when you’re in a sad place any more than I would if you were drunk.”
“You’re chivalrous.”
“Ain’t no other way for a real man to be, where I come from.”
Keeping her eyes on his, she sucked his lower lip between her teeth and lightly bit down.
A low warning rumbled up his throat.
“While I appreciate your consideration and restraint, Deacon, it’s not only your decision when we become intimate.”
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you. We’re already intimate, regardless of whether we’ve fucked. Which is why I was pissed off you didn’t come to me first when this family stuff went down.”
“I am sorry.”
“I know. And it won’t happen again.”
A statement. Needing space from his intensity, she retreated. “It’s been an exhausting day.”
“No kidding. I’m beat.” Deacon fisted his hand in his T-shirt, yanking it over his head.
When his fingers unhooked the button of his camo shorts, Molly said, “What are you doing?”
“Getting ready for bed.”
“Oh. I’ll get out of your . . . space. I’ll grab the extra blanket from the bedroom for the couch.”
Deacon stared at her. “Contorting my body on that tiny couch ain’t happening when there’s a king-sized bed in the next room.”
“But . . .” Her mouth dried when he lowered the zipper and his clothing hit the floor.
Her don’t look, don’t look mantra was overruled by the greedy sexual bitch inside her that screamed, Fuck yeah I’m gonna look! It was dark the last time and I didn’t see much!
Molly’s eyes followed the line bisecting his upper torso, down his pecs, over his sternum, past his belly button, her gaze straying to the rigid pillows of flesh that created his six-pack, and then, whoa, there was his cock, growing right before her very eyes.