“I had to see you. I…missed you, Karen. A lot.”
“So what…this is fling number two? Or just an extension of fling one? Mike, I—”
He put his hand over hers. “No, I need to talk. I care about you more than I have about anyone—except maybe my family. I know you wanted to call the shots—but what about partnership? Is that something you could work with? And it wasn’t just the sex—it’s the package, Karen. You’re funny and sweet and a damn hard worker. And I…I think I’m in love with you.”
“Think?” Karen chews on her lower lip. “Only think?”
He tightened his hold on her hand. “Sweetheart, you opened my eyes up. You put me in these damn overalls and got me back to what really mattered. Not even two weeks with you and I don’t want my old life back. Do you know, I hated New York when I got back there I missed this place, and you, and…and I don’t know what I’m going to do if you send me packing again. So, yeah, I snuck in, because I wasn’t sure if I emailed or called if you’d let me back. And I had to see you. I want to give this a shot. So…what do you say? How about taking me away from a life of storm shutters?”
She shook her head. “If it doesn’t work out? I don’t know if I could survive that, Mike.”
“Sweetheart, you’ve got a ton of faith in this place—how about putting some of that in us?”
Turning, she put a hand on his chest. “What about that storm that’s coming? Think we can ride it out?”
He smiled.
Grabbing her hand, he pulled her with him down the hall and to the storm room. Karen had left this unchanged—so much of her parents still existed in this small room. The couch her folks had had brought in, the photos, the fruit her mother had put up and onto the shelves.
He closed the door behind him, and started unloading his backpack. He set up two electric lamps, pulled out packed food, and two blankets. “Hear that wind howling?”
She shook her head.
Leaving the blankets draped over the couch, Mike came over and ran his hands up her arms. She let out a breath. “Mike, I—”
He put a finger on her lips. “My turn to try and convince you that this is for real.”
He kissed her, long and deep, his lips soft and demanding by turns. She gave a whimper, and he fell with her onto the sofa. She looked up into his eyes. His pupils had blow dark and black, leaving only a rim of blue. She thought he looked as crazy with need as she felt. She pulled him closer.
He shifted so he could kiss her breasts, starting with the sides and working his way to her nipples. She could feel them harden. He gently nipped, then bit down on one, making her arch and wiggle. He started to strip off her clothes, unbuttoning her shirt, slipping his fingers up under her shirt. Reaching up, he nipped with his fingertips at her nipple again. She gave a moan and wiggled again.
Pulling away, he unzipped his overalls and pulled them off.
“No underwear?” she asked.
He grinned. “Never wore any before around here.”
“You work fast, mister.”
“Oh, I can go slow when I need to.” Going down on his knees, spread her legs, pushed up her skirt, and pulled off her underwear. “Now about that storm…” He put his mouth on her and pushed his tongue inside her. Heat rocketed through her in a quick flame. He moved away, the stubble of his beard rasping over her skin. He kissed her stomach and gently bit the inside of her thigh.
She put a hand on his shoulder and gave a sigh. “Don’t stop. Ever.”
Shifting back to the damp spot between her legs, he dove in again. He worked her hard with his tongue and lips, and then slipped a finger inside. She moaned and bucked up against his mouth.
When she didn’t think she could take much more she felt him pull back. Shivering, she dragged her eyes open. God, he was beautiful—all lean muscle and strength. Some of his tan from the island had faded. She touched a hand to his hip and then stroked his erection.
“We’re nuts,” she muttered.
“Long as we’re in it together,” he told her. Leaning over her, he spread her legs wide again, and looked down at her as he began to push his length inside her. She was wet and open and he slipped into her with ease. She gasped, and he kissed her again. She tasted her sent and her juices on his lips. He pushed in until his hips rested between hers. Looking at him, she moaned and lifted her hips to grind up against him. He began to slide in and out of her body, moving slow enough to make her want even more.
A growl escaped her. Mike chuckled. “There’s my little wild cat. Tell me what you want.”
He pressed into her with his thumb. The breath caught in her chest as he slipped another finger inside her.
“Faster. More!”
“Hey, didn’t you once lecture me about manners?”