He stepped back so I could hop off my stool and grab my purse. “Um… where do you want to go?” I looked up at him… way up, and realized how much bigger he was. At least a foot taller. I had to tip my chin back, otherwise I was staring at the snap on his shirt. I should have felt intimidated, but I felt feminine. The differences between us were striking. He was hard and muscled. I was toned, but had stopped growing in seventh grade. Two of me probably still didn’t equal one of him.
“Your place,” he murmured, sliding a knuckle down my cheek. “It’s a hell of a lot closer than mine.”
Our gazes tangled and held. My breath stalled in my chest as I took in the golden glint to his brown eyes. “Why are you here in Granger?”
He shook his head. “On business.” Taking my hand, he led me to the door, holding it open for me until we were out on the sidewalk. The evening air was cooler. People were out enjoying themselves in the pretty summer night. With the university only having a few summer programs going on, there were fewer students around.
Wade looked at me, and I took in the dark flecks in his eyes. The way they pierced into me, roving, studying, as if searching for something.
Then I realized I was being an idiot. He didn’t know where to go. He was waiting for me.
“This way.” I turned toward my apartment, and he kept his pace to my slower one as we went down the block.
He didn’t live in Granger. Being here for business meant that he didn’t come here often for other reasons.
It’s a one-night stand, dummy.
I shouldn’t have been disappointed that he wasn’t a local, but strangely, I was. Then a terrible thought occurred to me, and I stopped. “Oh God, you’re not married, are you?” I craned my head to try to check for a ring.
He turned to face me. When he saw we were blocking the way of another couple coming down the sidewalk, he tugged me toward the nearest shop entrance. “What? No!” The answer exploded out of him with a laugh like it was an outrageous suggestion, so I relaxed.
I sighed, setting a hand on my heart. “Okay, good. Just checking. So do you, um… do this often?” Gah. My nerves were getting on top of me. I definitely had no game. This probably wasn’t the sort of thing I should ask right before I was about to hook up with a hot cowboy.
“Never, sugar. But it seems I have a real weakness for wolf biologists.” He winked, then stroked my cheek again. His gaze roved over my features, then settled on my mouth. He groaned right before he lowered his head and kissed me.
Oh, shit. The guy could kiss. It went from a gentle brush to more from one second to the next. His hand cupped the back of my neck and held me in place, tipping my head to the side so he could take it deeper.
I gasped, then whimpered when his tongue found mine.
He lifted his head. I blinked, and stared up at him. Licked my now swollen lips.
“Caitlyn…”
He didn’t need to say more than my name because he had me at those two growled syllables.
My panties dampened, and all my nerves melted away. “My apartment’s right there.” I pointed to the next building down. He was still holding my hand, and tugged me along. This time, he was rushing, and I had to practically run to keep up. I didn’t mind. He was eager, and so was I. If that kiss was any indication…
Pulling out my keys, I tried to get them in the lock, but my hand was shaking too much. Wade took over, and got the door opened. His hand settled on my lower back as he held it open for me to enter first. He was taking deep breaths, as if the kiss had been a workout. The electricity between us grew as we took the stairs up to my apartment.
The moment I got the door open, Wade launched into motion, divesting me of my purse and keys as his lips slammed down on mine once more, as if the few minutes our mouths had been apart was too much.
I gasped, responding to the kiss with more pent-up passion than I knew was in me. God, I was attracted to Wade. Hot for him. Like zero to sixty from one kiss to the next. What was it about this guy?
His size? His hard muscles? His gentle hands? His skilled mouth?
I even liked his taste.
Wade flung off his hat, then stripped me of my jean jacket. My top was pulled off next, and he barely broke our kiss to do it. “You smell so good,” he rumbled against my neck as he backed me against a wall. His hands cupped and kneaded my breasts through my bra.