To express her concerns would be throwing a damper on everything between them.
Leaning in, he kissed her. His soft, warm mouth set her head spinning and she wondered if she would ever grow used to Josh’s kisses.
God, she hoped not.
“Be honest with me, Min. Don’t hold back.”
She sighed, smoothing her hand down the front of his shirt. His heart pounded furiously beneath her palm, and she shifted her head back to meet his gaze. “Things aren’t going to change once we leave my house, are they? I mean, I know my life is still sort of complicated and I have excess baggage as in my ex and my kids. It won’t be easy, being with me. And oh my God, I’m talking like we’re going to get married, which I know isn’t the case because I’m really jumping to conclusions aren’t I?”
“Min. Sweetheart.” He pressed his finger over her lips to silence her, then gently traced the curve of her bottom lip. His touch made her tremble, every single time. “You’re rambling.”
“I know,” she whispered against his finger, wishing she could lick it. They may have spent a lot of time together, but they hadn’t taken it any further than heavy kissing sessions and wandering hands. Not that she wanted to take it further. They needed to get to know each other again and take it slow.
Lies. All lies. She would love it if Josh stripped her naked and made her his in every sense of the word. Just thinking about making love with Josh sent a fresh rush of pleasure through her, making her tremble.
He dropped his finger from her lips and she felt the loss keenly. “I want to be with you.” The sincerity in his voice, glittering in his eyes, made her heart soar. “I can’t wait to meet your boys again and get to know them. And I don’t care about Marty. I’ll show him respect as your boys’ father, but I don’t need to be his friend.”
She smiled. “I don’t expect you two to be friends.”
“Good,” he said with a grunt. “We may be taking this too fast but, Min, I’ve known you forever and then I lost you. Now that you’re back in my life, I’m not that same kid who gave up so easily all those years ago. I’m going to fight for you. I can’t stand the thought of losing you again.”
“Fighting won’t be necessary,” she murmured, curling her arms around his neck and bringing his head down to hers. “I surrender to you completely, Josh.”
He kissed her, long and deep and with plenty of tongue. “Words like that make me want to push this between us even further,” he admitted when they broke the kiss.
She feathered his jaw with tender kisses. “That was my plan.”
Josh slipped his fingers beneath her chin and lifted her face up so her gaze met his. “You mean it? I’m trying to go slow here, even if it’s killing me. You just got out of this divorce and…”
“I’m a grown woman who knows what she wants.” She kissed him, hard. “And I want you.”
He pressed his forehead to hers. “I want you, too. More than I think you realize.”
“After all these years being without you, having you come back in my life, it’s like we picked up right where we left off.” She stroked his bristly cheek, loving the way he looked with the faint beard. He hadn’t shaved in days and they’d bathed with splashes of icy cold water that made her shriek every single time and maybe…
Huh. Maybe they shouldn’t do anything yet. She was feeling sorta yucky after not having a hot shower for a few days.
&n
bsp; “I feel the same,” he agreed, those four simple words sending her heart nearly to bursting.
“This is the best Christmas present I’ve ever received,” she whispered. “I’m so glad you almost hit my cat.”
He laughed, the warm, rich sound making her smile. “That is the strangest thing you’ve said yet, Min, but I gotta agree. I’m glad I almost hit your cat, too.”
They both laughed now, the sound slowly dying as Josh’s lips captured hers. The kisses were soft, sweet, soon turning to hot and deep and then she was lost. Lost in the swirl of pleasure his lips and hands and words sent her into. Lost in the feel of him. Lost in the knowledge that finally, finally she felt like she’d found the man for her.
Thank goodness for second chances. And crazy cats that won’t come home when you call them…
Chapter Eight
Christmas day
“Josh, what are you doing here?” Christian Nelson stopped short in the doorway of the McKenzie household, his arms laden with a pile of colorfully wrapped Christmas presents.
“Great way to greet me, my friend.” Josh went to his coworker and helped ease his burden by taking a few of the presents from him. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas to you. Sorry, I didn’t expect to see you.” Chris glanced back when his wife Jane entered the house, a gentle smile crossing his face when their gazes met. “Look who’s here, Jane.”