might.” He smiled, appreciating the thought and the fact that though tense, she was able to hold her own. “Poor old Zark deserves to meet someone who understands him. These eyes would.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” And run. “The boys will be back in a minute.”
“We’ve got some time yet. Hester, do you ever have fun?”
“What a stupid question. Of course I do.”
“Not as Rad’s mother, but as Hester.” He ran a hand through her hair, captivated.
“I
am
Rad’s mother.” Though she managed to rise, he stood with her.
“You’re also a woman. A gorgeous one.” He saw the look in her eyes and ran his thumb along her jawline. “Take my word for it. I’m an honest man. You’re one gorgeous bundle of nerves.”
“That’s silly. I don’t have anything to be nervous about.” Other than the fact that he was touching her, and his voice was quiet, and the apartment was empty.
“I’ll take the shaft out of my heart later,” he murmured. He bent to kiss her, then had to catch her when she nearly stumbled over the newspapers. “Take it easy. I’m not going to bite you. This time.”
“I have to go.” She was as close to panic as she ever allowed herself to come. “I have a dozen things to do.”
“In a minute.” He framed her face. She was trembling, he realized. It didn’t surprise him. What did was that he wasn’t steady himself. “What we have here, Mrs. Wallace, is called attraction, chemistry, lust. It doesn’t really matter what label you put on it.”
“Maybe not to you.”
“Then we’ll let you pick the label later.” He stroked his thumbs over her cheekbones, gently, soothingly. “I already told you I’m not a maniac. I’ll have to remember to get those references.”
“Mitch, I told you I appreciate what you’re doing for Rad, but I wish you’d—”
“Here and now doesn’t concern Rad. This is you and me, Hester. When was the last time you let yourself be alone with a man who wanted you?” He casually brushed his thumb over her lips. Her eyes went to smoke. “When was the last time you let anyone do this?”
His mouth covered hers quickly, with a force that came as a shock. She hadn’t been prepared for violence. His hands had been so gentle, his voice so soothing. She hadn’t expected this edgy passion. But God, how she’d wanted it. With the same reckless need, she threw her arms around his neck and answered demand for demand.
“Too long,” Mitch managed breathlessly when he tore his mouth from hers. “Thank God.” Before she could utter more than a moan, he took her mouth again.
He hadn’t been sure what he’d find in her—ice, anger, fear. The unrestrained heat came as much of a shock to his system as to hers. Her wide, generous mouth was warm and willing, with all traces of shyness swallowed by passion. She gave more than he would have asked for, more than he’d been prepared to take.
His head spun, a fascinating and novel sensation he couldn’t fully appreciate as he struggled to touch and taste. He dragged his hands through her hair, scattering the two thin silver pins she’d used to pull it back from her face. He wanted it free and wild in his hands, just as he wanted her free and wild in his bed. His plans to go slowly, to test the waters, evaporated in an overwhelming desire to dive in headfirst. Thinking only of this, he slipped his hands under her sweater. The skin there was tender and warm. The silky little concoction she wore was cool and soft. He slid his hands around her waist and up to cup her breasts.
She stiffened, then shuddered. She hadn’t known how much she’d wanted to be touched like this. Needed like this. His taste was so dark, so tempting. She’d forgotten what it was like to hunger for such things. It was madness, the sweet release of madness. She heard him murmur her name as he moved his mouth down her throat and back again.
Madness. She understood it. She’d been there before, or thought she had.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” And run. “The boys will be back in a minute.”
“We’ve got some time yet. Hester, do you ever have fun?”
“What a stupid question. Of course I do.”
“Not as Rad’s mother, but as Hester.” He ran a hand through her hair, captivated.
“I
am
Rad’s mother.” Though she managed to rise, he stood with her.
“You’re also a woman. A gorgeous one.” He saw the look in her eyes and ran his thumb along her jawline. “Take my word for it. I’m an honest man. You’re one gorgeous bundle of nerves.”
“That’s silly. I don’t have anything to be nervous about.” Other than the fact that he was touching her, and his voice was quiet, and the apartment was empty.
“I’ll take the shaft out of my heart later,” he murmured. He bent to kiss her, then had to catch her when she nearly stumbled over the newspapers. “Take it easy. I’m not going to bite you. This time.”
“I have to go.” She was as close to panic as she ever allowed herself to come. “I have a dozen things to do.”
“In a minute.” He framed her face. She was trembling, he realized. It didn’t surprise him. What did was that he wasn’t steady himself. “What we have here, Mrs. Wallace, is called attraction, chemistry, lust. It doesn’t really matter what label you put on it.”
“Maybe not to you.”
“Then we’ll let you pick the label later.” He stroked his thumbs over her cheekbones, gently, soothingly. “I already told you I’m not a maniac. I’ll have to remember to get those references.”
“Mitch, I told you I appreciate what you’re doing for Rad, but I wish you’d—”
“Here and now doesn’t concern Rad. This is you and me, Hester. When was the last time you let yourself be alone with a man who wanted you?” He casually brushed his thumb over her lips. Her eyes went to smoke. “When was the last time you let anyone do this?”
His mouth covered hers quickly, with a force that came as a shock. She hadn’t been prepared for violence. His hands had been so gentle, his voice so soothing. She hadn’t expected this edgy passion. But God, how she’d wanted it. With the same reckless need, she threw her arms around his neck and answered demand for demand.
“Too long,” Mitch managed breathlessly when he tore his mouth from hers. “Thank God.” Before she could utter more than a moan, he took her mouth again.
He hadn’t been sure what he’d find in her—ice, anger, fear. The unrestrained heat came as much of a shock to his system as to hers. Her wide, generous mouth was warm and willing, with all traces of shyness swallowed by passion. She gave more than he would have asked for, more than he’d been prepared to take.
His head spun, a fascinating and novel sensation he couldn’t fully appreciate as he struggled to touch and taste. He dragged his hands through her hair, scattering the two thin silver pins she’d used to pull it back from her face. He wanted it free and wild in his hands, just as he wanted her free and wild in his bed. His plans to go slowly, to test the waters, evaporated in an overwhelming desire to dive in headfirst. Thinking only of this, he slipped his hands under her sweater. The skin there was tender and warm. The silky little concoction she wore was cool and soft. He slid his hands around her waist and up to cup her breasts.
She stiffened, then shuddered. She hadn’t known how much she’d wanted to be touched like this. Needed like this. His taste was so dark, so tempting. She’d forgotten what it was like to hunger for such things. It was madness, the sweet release of madness. She heard him murmur her name as he moved his mouth down her throat and back again.
Madness. She understood it. She’d been there before, or thought she had.
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