Mia nodded.
“I think that more than one person is giving Kyle a hard time.”
“I think so too,” she said.
Kyle wasn’t a fighter, but his size could be intimidating. It wouldn’t take more than one boy, she thought, to make him uneasy. She looked at kids on the couch having fun and laughing, then turned to find Tate’s dark eyes on her.
“That was really amazing of you,” she said, before she could think better of it. Tate just looked down at her and smiled.
“I didn’t do anything.”
“Yes you did,” she said softly.
He took a step toward her, then another, until they were fully in the kitchen and out of sight from the boys. Her back pressed against the counter and a wall of man was before her.
“Eating sweets, playing video games and stealing looks at a sexy woman is hardly putting me out,” he said lowly.
Her breath caught. “Well I still appreciate you keeping Kyle company.”
“He’s a good kid.”
Mia nodded. Tate leaned in just enough so that his breath fanned her lips, like tart apples and chocolate. She licked her lips, dying for a taste.
“I have to say that this has been a good night for me too.”
“Oh yeah?” she grinned. “Because you got your football fix?”
“No,” he said, his eyes dark and serious as they landed on her mouth. “I haven’t gotten my fix yet.”
Closing the distance, he flicked his tongue out to take the smallest taste of her lips.
“Mmm,” he sighed as if just drinking down the finest wine. “I think I need more.” And he leaned in and took it.
Commanding her mouth with his own, he held the deep, intense pace that made her moan. Made her desperate for faster, harder, but he took his time. Sampling her. Purposefully driving her to the brink of insanity. She knew what Tate was capable of. Saw him lose himself to instinct. But he was never without connection. She saw it, felt it, the night at the bar. And ever since she hadn’t had a rational thought about the man.
She tugged on the hem of his shirt and felt the cool clasp of his belt brush the backs of her fingers. He hissed, or was it her? She didn’t know because her ear drums were vibrating with her hectic pulse. All she could think about was being possessed by the man before her.
She kissed him back. Loving how he felt, how he smelled. How he consumed. He cupped her face like he did outside the bar. Only instead of the fast pace and craze of that kiss, this was bending her mind and stealing her sense in a different way. A deeper way.
His fingers brushed along the back of her neck while his thumb gently stroked her cheek bone. She felt small in his hands. Delicate. Special.
She knew this was just a kiss. Knew not to push for more because the circumstance didn’t
allow. Just a kiss. And she’d enjoy the hell out of it because Tate was a master. She just wanted to feel his skin. Just for a moment.
She slipped her palms under his shirt and simply rested them against his stomach. Not clawing or yanking for more. Just allowing her senses to take in every detail of Tatum West and how he moved. Felt. Tasted.
His abdominal muscles jumped and flexed beneath her hands. Her core dampened just at the feel of his hard torso. Thinking of how he moved his powerful body when he was inside of her. Wanting to see him, really see every inch of his tan skin. Every curve of his body as he writhed against her. Because while she felt everything, she didn’t get to see much the night against the wall.
He tilted her head and plunged his tongue a little deeper. But they both knew this wasn’t going further, and somehow, it made Mia both happy and disappointed. At least there would be no confusion on the limits of tonight. She wouldn’t make a fool of herself and try to tug him to her bedroom.
For a moment, that moment, she was under his control. Loving that he seemed to be just as lost as she was. And right then, she didn’t care, because Tatum did the one thing that mattered tonight.
He had shown up.
She never had anyone she could depend on and honestly, she didn’t even notice. Can’t miss something she never had. But Tate with his firm hold on ethics and honor, paired with a sinful kiss and strong hold just may make her crave things she never thought she’d want.
Like long term.