“I’ve been waiting for you. It’s been driving me insane,” he whispered, the words lingering between them.
She made a soft sound that traveled directly down his spine and hit him right in the gut. “Matt.” His name was no more than a puff of air from her lips.
“If you don’t want me, you have to tell me now,” he gasped. “I don’t know if I can keep from touching you, Penny.” He tugged her up until she was on her toes, using the opportunity to feast on the soft skin of her throat. She whimpered, a soft helpless sound in the back of her throat.
“I can’t think when you do that. Well, I can, but all I’m thinking is don’t stop.” The tortured tone of her voice was the last straw. Matt pulled out his keys and went through a furious tussling match with the door until he finally managed to get it open. He grabbed her arm and pulled her across the threshold, kicking the door closed behind them with his foot.
Before the door was even shut, he had her in his arms. She arched against him and then made a strangled sound and pushed back.
“Oh no, Matt. Your shoulder—”
“Is fine.” It touched him that even now she was worried about him but he didn’t want her thinking about his therapy. Hell, he didn’t want her thinking at all. He nipped at her earlobe, pulling the skin between his teeth until she melted against him. “I have this awesome physical therapist, so it’s much better now. I can even lift things. You want to see?”
Wordlessly, she nodded. He lifted her carefully and leaned against her, fitting himself directly between her thighs. She cried out at the contact, her muscles going rigid. He didn’t release her, just used the opportunity to hold her captive for another kiss. Her mouth opened under his, their tongues meeting and sliding over each other. It was like he was consuming her whole until the taste of her meshed into him, a permanent tattoo on his soul.
Her long legs wrapped around his waist and held him to her as they kissed. The woman was nothing but legs and curves. He’d been pathetically grateful when she’d left that awful white coat at work so he could see the intriguing dips and valleys of her figure. She did interesting things to her simple navy blue blouse and gray slacks.
She tilted her head back, presenting Matt with the perfect line of her throat. He kissed the soft skin, loving it when she
shuddered and clutched his shoulders. Then she took his hand and pressed it between her legs. Her blue eyes held his for minutes, hours, days, as his hand slipped beneath the waistband of her slacks. When he encountered the soft cotton between her thighs, the noticeably damp cotton, he lost all semblance of his finesse.
He moved her panties aside easily and pressed against her, two fingers sliding deep. That was almost enough to make him lose it right there, the sensation of his fingers being sucked into warm, velvety heat. But if that wasn’t enough to knock him flat on his ass, Penny went rigid and her head fell back, thumping against the wall. The look of tortured satisfaction on her face…
Penny pushed against his shoulder gently until he put her down. Her eyes stood out against her pale skin, looking even bluer than before if that was possible. She wore very little makeup and with her hair pulled back so severely, it was clear she wasn’t trying to attract anyone’s attention.
Well, she had his whether she was trying for it or not.
Without losing eye contact, she popped the first button on her blouse. Then another. His blood pressure jacked higher with every inch of skin revealed. Matt was a slave at that moment because a nuclear explosion could have occurred behind him and he wouldn’t have been able to turn away.
Her eyes shifted behind him and she suddenly went rigid. Her fingers shook as she re-buttoned her blouse. “I have to go. I’m really sorry, I just… have to go.”
“It’s okay. Do you need me to come with you?”
“No. I’m sorry. I just need to get home.” She didn’t look at him as she straightened her clothes. Matt touched her back gently and she froze.
“Penny, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. This is just not a good idea. I shouldn’t have let things go as far as they did.” She finally looked up at him. The apology in her blue eyes softened the blow to his ego slightly. “I’ll see you next week.”
Matt watched, dumbfounded, as she yanked the door open. He stood in the doorway until she was safely in her car. It wasn’t until she drove away that he remembered he’d left his truck at the bar.
He closed the door and leaned against the wood. “What the hell happened?” She’d been right there with him right up until the end. She’d been like fire in his arms, hot and just as dangerous to his control. Until she’d suddenly gone cold. It just didn’t make any sense.
He lifted his eyes and his gaze landed on his Army hat sitting on the hall table. He reached out and picked it up.
Then he let out a harsh curse.
* * * * *
THE NEXT DAY, Matt decided it was time to stop winging it. Penny writhing in his arms had been an unexpected pleasure. One he wouldn’t mind repeating.
He’d suspected they’d be good together, but he’d had no idea just how good it would be. He hadn’t gotten any sleep the prior night with her taste still on his tongue and the memory of her rubbing herself against his leg. She’d worked him up good and then left him hard up.
Literally.
He’d never had this much trouble convincing a woman to go out with him before. He wasn’t exactly a ladies’ man—he was far too blunt to be smooth—but he’d never had anyone run away from him either. Matt scowled. It was probably time to admit he was striking out.
He needed help.