She blinks and slowly shakes her head side to side. Her voice is soft and low. “No, I don’t think it’s old.”
I let out a breath and move closer, wrapping my hand around her neck. Her eyes widen, and she licks her lips. She’s begging to be kissed, but I don’t think she realizes it. I force my eyes back to the television, but I keep a hold of her.
We sit through two whole episodes before I notice Eli’s head has fallen onto the pillow he’s lying on. “He’s out,” I tell Natalie with a nod toward Eli.
She doesn’t move, and neither do I. I need to. I have to get up early, and if I was at home, I’d already be asleep. The fact is, though, I don’t want to go. I’ve enjoyed spending time with Natalie and Eli.
I remove my hand from her neck and put it on the back of the couch. The urge to pull her toward me is intense, but it’s obvious by the way her back has stiffened she’s not ready for that.
“I have to go,” I tell her reluctantly. I clear my throat, wanting to be honest with her but hating the vulnerability. “But I don’t want to. I enjoyed this.”
She opens her mouth to say something and closes it quickly. She stands up from the couch and makes her way to the front door. She’s standing next to it, fidgeting when I stop next to her. I grab my hat off the hook and stand here holding it against my chest. If I leave now, without even a kiss, I’m going to regret it. I know I will. “I want to kiss you.”
She’s shaking her head before I even get it all out. I hold my hand up to stop her. “Please, listen to me. I need to test a theory. One kiss and then you can toss me out on my ear if that’s what you want to do.”
She’s curious, and when she blinks up at me, I move closer to her. She’s shorter than me, and I bend down until we’re at eye level. “You have a theory?” she murmurs.
I nod once. “I do. I have a theory that you’re different. That one kiss isn’t going to be enough.” I push the hair away from her face and cup her cheek, bringing her face up until I can feel her breath on my cheek. Her eyes widen, and her pulse is racing.
Her hands come up to the front of my shirt, and she grabs the material between her fingers. “You’re too much for me, King. I can’t tell you no.”
I smile and tilt my head to the side. “Don’t lie, Natalie. Not to me and not to yourself. The truth is, you can tell me no, but you don’t want to.”
She whimpers and seems surprised when she hears it. She leans her head into my hand, and I press my thumb to her lower lip. I rub across it sensuously. “But here’s the thing. I’m not that man. I’m not going to just take something because I want it. And even though I have a pretty good idea of what you’re feeling right now, I need to hear you say it.”
She sounds breathless and leans into my body. “Hear me say what?”
I stop stroking her lip and search her face. “That you want me to kiss you.”
She takes a deep breath, and I swear I can feel her puckered nipples graze my chest. “I want one kiss, King. But that’s all I can offer.”
I’m not in the mood to argue with her, so I lean down and press my lips to hers. On contact, I can feel it. My whole body seems to swell, and I deepen the kiss while holding her close. I planned a simple kiss, just a taste of her, but there’s no way that’s enough. I ravage her lips, and when she opens her mouth, my tongue delves into her sweetness. Kissing Natalie is nothing like I imagined. I knew the minute I saw her I was attracted to her, but I had no idea kissing her would be like an explosion.
I force myself to pull away. Her lips are swollen, hair going in different directions, and her eyes are glazed over. She looks as if she’s been thoroughly kissed, and the need to do it again is all-consuming.
I step back as she drops her hands to her sides. She’s staring open-mouthed at me, and I’m sure I have the same surprised look on my face. “I have to go before I do something you’re not ready for.”
That seems to wake her up, and she shakes her head. “King, I can’t... I don’t know how long I’ll be in Whiskey Valley.”
I open the front door and walk through it. She’s standing at the open door, holding on to it like it’s a lifeline. The need to take her in my arms and make her promise not to leave is overwhelming.