Ignite (Wildwood 1)

“Better,” he confessed with the faintest smile just before he kissed her again. He took it deeper this time, teasing just the inside of her mouth with slow sweeps of his tongue before circling it around her own. She clutched the soft hair at his nape, her fingers tugging, trying to pull him closer. He still hadn’t put his hands on her and it was driving her crazy.

Harper tilted her chin up, her hair rubbing against the door as she tried to shift the kiss even deeper. But West wouldn’t have it. He broke away from her, his mouth running along her jaw, down her throat, gently touching the sensitive spot just behind her ear. He bit her earlobe, making her gasp, her entire body throbbing with need.

And still he hadn’t touched her.

“I know what you want,” he whispered against her neck, sounding arrogant as hell. And so incredibly sexy too. If he knew what she wanted, then why wasn’t he giving it to her? “But the second I put my hands on you it’s all over.”

“Wh-what’s all over?” She bent her head to the left, giving him better access, and he took it, kissing and—oh, God—licking her neck.

Weston Gallagher had an amazing tongue.

“My self-control.” He lifted his head, shifting himself away from her. “I’m afraid I’ll tear your clothes off once I get my hands on you.”

Her breath hitched in her throat at the thought. Yes, please. Oh, she’d never been lucky enough to have a man so overcome with need for her that he tore her clothes off. That sounded absolutely wonderful.

She slipped her hands away from his neck, over his shoulders, down his chest. He was firm. Muscular. And very, very warm. What would he do if she slipped her fingers beneath the hem of

his T-shirt and lifted it right off him? Maybe she was tempted to lose all self-control and tear his clothes off.

Or maybe not. She was feeling brave tonight, but not that brave.

“Are you still mad at me?” he asked.

“I wasn’t . . . ” She shook her head.

West removed one hand from the wall, pressing his fingers against her lips and silencing her. “Don’t lie to me, Harper. You were mad. That’s why you were running out of here like your feet were on fire.”

How did he know her so well? Maybe since she was so obvious? Probably. “I thought you were going to . . . let me down easy,” she murmured against his fingers.

“I thought you were angry at me for attempting to make a move on you,” he confessed, his hand dropping away from her mouth.

“Why would I be mad about that?” It was what she’d wanted for years.

“I come back into town, see you, and within twenty-four hours of our supermarket reunion, I hear you split with your live-in boyfriend. I figured you needed some time to . . . I don’t know . . . heal? Not deal with some guy from your past acting like he wanted to get in your panties.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear like he couldn’t keep his hands off her.

Oh. Did he really want to get in her panties? The only words floating through her brain were yes, please. And then, when can we make that happen?

Whoops. That was definitely more than two words.

“You wanted to, um, get in my panties?” Her voice squeaked on the last word. She actually said panties to West. And they were in reference to her panties. She should be mortified, but she wasn’t. No, more like aroused.

Very aroused.

“I’ve wanted to get in your panties for years,” he admitted, his voice so low she almost couldn’t hear him. “You turned sixteen, and I immediately wanted to jump you.”

Say what? She sucked in a sharp breath, laughing as she lightly slapped him on the chest. “You did not.”

He nodded. “I did too. You got all those pretty curves and the braces came off? Forget it. I was done for.”

“You were a senior when I turned sixteen.” He’d had his pick of girls. All three Gallagher boys had a reputation. With their good looks, easygoing attitudes, and natural athleticism, they were extremely popular. Smart. Friendly. Guys wanted to be their friends. Girls wanted to be their girlfriends. Everyone was naturally drawn to them, and West was the most charismatic of the bunch.

Well, he was to Harper.

“I know. And my sister’s best friend.” He shook his head. “And underage. Just . . . I thought we were a bad idea.”

Wow. She’d always thought they’d be a great idea. She couldn’t believe he’d been interested in her for so long.

“I’m thinking we might still be a bad idea,” he said softly, his words causing dread to seep into her skin, reminding her that they were definitely not on the same page.