And what about Wilson? She looked at him, frowning. “I think the same is probably true for you. Isn’t it?”
He looked startled. “Well—I suppose I hadn’t thought of it that way. A man doesn’t usually think he needs to be held.”
“Everyone needs to be held sometimes,” Mavis said firmly.
A slow smile spread across his face. “I guess I have to agree. Though the military doesn’t provide many opportunities. No mandatory hugging checks, or anything of the sort.”
Mavis huffed a laugh at that mental image. “Wouldn’t that be something.”
“It would,” he agreed. “I think some of these straight-laced, upright military men could use a good hug or two. Although I doubt they’d ever admit it.”
“Probably not.” Mavis ran a hand up his arm, getting distracted at the curve of his bicep, before she traced over his shoulder to cup his neck. God, he was muscular. “What were you going to suggest?” she asked him.
He seemed distracted by her hand. “Sorry?”
“Before,” she said. “You said, ‘This can be all we do tonight.’” She raised her eyebrows. “As opposed to what? It sounded like there was another option in there.”
She could hear the flirtatious tone in her voice. She knew what she was suggesting...and she wasn’t about to take it back.
“Well.” His voice had gone deeper. “I could kiss you again.”
“You could,” she agreed.
Her hand was still cupping his neck. He turned his head, his lips brushing against her wrist. “Like that, perhaps.”
“Or?” She sounded breathless. That was all right, she decided. She could use a little breathlessness in her life.
“Or like this.” He reached out, his hand brushing her cheek, and drew her in.
This kiss was deeper than the last one had been. His tongue flirted with her lips, and she opened her mouth to let him in, melting into his arms.
But it was still so gentle, so soft, like she was something precious that he wanted to take the absolute best care of. Mavis held on tight and kissed him back, her heart aching with the feeling of him so close to her.
“Mmm,” she said as he pulled back. “Exactly like that.”
He kissed her again. This time, the kiss melted into more kisses, until they were twined together on Mavis’ couch like teenagers, kissing and kissing and kissing.
Somewhere in there, the softness started transforming into heat. The kisses were still gentle, still full of a tender care that Mavis wanted to feel directed toward her every single day from now on. But the air between her and Wilson was starting to light up, to crackle with desire. Mavis could feel herself getting wet, heat building in her stomach and between her legs. Her breasts tingled with want, and she pulled Wilson closer, one hand on his bicep, the other starting to explore down his side toward his hip.
He pulled back with a gasp. “What do you want?”
“Hm?” she asked dizzily.
He kissed her again, as though he couldn’t help himself. “What do you want?” he murmured. “Should we move this to the bedroom? If you’re—”
“I am more than okay with moving it to the bedroom,” Mavis told him. “I would be delighted if we could move it to the bedroom. In fact—”
“I think I understand,” he said, laughing. “Well, then—”
Mavis made a startled noise as he swept her up into his arms, without exerting any sort of apparent effort.
Shifter strength, she reminded herself. Although he was so muscular, she wouldn’t have been surprised if he could’
ve done it no matter what. And Mavis wasn’t a small woman; she had curves all over.
“Just tell me the way,” he murmured to her.
Mavis directed him down the hall to her bedroom door, and he opened it neatly without jostling her, closed it carefully behind him, and then deposited her right in the center of her bed. Then he kissed her deeply, one broad hand supporting her back as he laid her down onto the pillows.