Without thought he lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to the top. Because that felt warm and comfortable, as if it belonged in that moment in time.
“Trace, I...” Chrissie’s voice trailed off as she came to an abrupt stop and stared up at him. “You shouldn’t.”
She was right. He shouldn’t, but he was glad he had. They stood behind the medical tent on the path leading toward the main event area. They were alone, but someone could come up the path at any time.
“Probably not.” He was only home for a short while, had nothing to offer her beyond the weekend. Which was too bad, because from the time he’d seen her he’d known what he wanted, what he needed. Chrissie.
“Yes.”
But her eyes said something different and that fueled him forward to say what had already been in the back of his mind, tempting his conscious thought and actions.
“We were good together. We could be good together again.”
Her expression tightened.
And then he’d take off for parts unknown, for who knew how long, before he’d be home for another few weeks’ hiatus from his reality? Maybe he should let the attraction go but, for whatever reason, he pushed. Whatever it was about Chrissie seemed to be dictating his every move from the moment he’d laid eyes on her that afternoon.
“I can tell you’re still attracted to me,” he pointed out, as if that were breaking news.
“Doesn’t matter.” Her exasperation was palpable, and yet she still didn’t pull her hand away from his, just kept staring at where their fingers intertwined.
“Sure, it does.” To prove his point, he bent and pressed his lips to hers. Gentle, to where she could push him away with ease if she wanted to.
He hoped she didn’t. Her lips were so sweet.
She didn’t stop him or push him away, but he felt the str
uggle within her and that gave him pause.
He pulled back, stared down into her wide eyes.
Her wide, slightly dazed eyes.
Her eyes that were filled with desire so sweet it punched him in the gut.
This was why he hadn’t been able to resist kissing her.
Because her kisses were addictive and powerful. He craved what being with her promised.
“You taste good, like the sweetest wine, making me want to drink until I’m intoxicated,” he admitted. “Let me, Chrissie. We both know you want to.”
CHAPTER FOUR
CHRISSIE STARED UP at the man who had haunted her dreams for four years. Who needed more? One kiss and she already felt drunk.
Because his kiss drugged her and made her forget reason.
She wanted to drag him back to her, to kiss him all over until they were both satiated, until the whole world subsided and it was just the two of them.
As it had felt four years ago.
“What a marvelous event,” a woman’s voice interrupted as she and a group of women rounded the path.
Tugging her hand free from his, Chrissie stepped back to the side of a tent.
“Absolutely. CCPO fund-raisers are always the best fun,” another chimed in.
“The first day and we’re already sneaking around in the shadows.”