She tasted him and stopped thinking at all, no longer able to catalogue memories. Only able to feel. He slid his mouth over hers with a satisfied groan, letting her know that he, too, was taking what he’d wanted for so long. He kissed her hard, holding her in place with his hand twisting in her hair. Biting at her bottom lip before gliding his tongue over the sting in a soft caress. Her sex swelled, desire mounting.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, let her hands come to rest in his hair, tangling her fingers in the short strands. Finding something to anchor herself to as best she could. Because he wasn’t gentle with her. He took her mouth with the pent-up passion of a starving man, and she gave back just as hungrily.
Her tongue tangled with his, and his body shuddered with need. She needed to be closer and pressed herself against him, her unbound breasts smashed against his chest, only two sheaths of cotton separating her from feeling him skin to skin.
He tipped her head farther back, kissing her more deeply, and her pussy began to pulse with desire. Beyond thought or reason, she hooked one leg around him, and her sex came into contact with his rock-hard thigh. And she moaned as a pleasurable wave of arousal swept over her.
His fingertips bit into the skin on her arm while the other hand pulled harder on her hair. Need shot through her as her hips rotated against the rough denim of his jeans.
“God yes,” she moaned again, knowing she could come from this motion alone. It had been so long since she’d worried about pleasing herself, and Lucas pleased her so much. Just being in his arms, floating away on a cloud of desire, so close to—
“No.” He abruptly released her, setting her away from him, his breathing coming in a rough, labored hitch.
A dull roar echoed in her ears, and all she could focus on was how needy she felt, how empty. That and the fact that he’d pushed her away.
She shook her head in a vain attempt to clear the fuzzy haze of desire still filling her. “Lucas?”
“I can’t take advantage of you,” he said, stepping back but looking as shaken up as she felt.
She’d be lying if she didn’t admit to taking some small consolation from the fact that she’d had an overwhelming effect on him too.
“You wouldn’t have been.” She felt compelled to point out that she’d been a willing participant.
But she understood his point. They had to live together, at least for now. And she couldn’t afford to get wrapped up in a man. Even if every inch of her body desired and wanted to be filled by him, she had to get her life in order.
Which reminded her… “I have a job interview tomorrow!” she said, grateful to have something else to focus on besides that kiss.
His gorgeous brown eyes lit up as he clearly welcomed the change of subject too. “That’s fantastic. Where?”
“A firm called Power and Associates. The woman who called said she was impressed by my resume.” She beamed like an idiot but she didn’t care. It was her first step toward independence, and she intended to cherish every second.
“Congratulations. I think that deserves a celebration.”
“It does?” She thought about it and grinned. “It does.”
“Guess what I have?” He reached into his pocket and pulled out two tickets.
“What are those?”
“Tickets to the sold-out Museum of Ice Cream. It’s in the Meatpacking District,” he said, mentioning a trendy part of Manhattan. “And these babies are impossible to get.”
Her eyes opened wide. “I saw a news clip on it. That sounds like so much fun.”
“Then what do you say we head over there and celebrate your interview?” he suggested, sounding proud of her.
“It’s not the same thing as an actual job but—”
He reached out and placed his finger over her lips. “Hush.”
She parted her lips and he yanked his hand away. Apparently he was going to play it cautious, and if she was smart and was looking out for her future, she’d do the same.
Chapter Three
The Museum of Ice Cream wasn’t a real museum. It was a selfie-oriented place to have fun, and it was jam-packed with people. Although Lucas would normally have taken Maxie to a fancy dinner to celebrate her job interview, he knew how hard these tickets were to come by, and he’d had a hunch she’d enjoy the limited-time exhibit. Plus, he’d nearly had to wrestle Kade for the two tickets left by one of their advertisers. He couldn’t let them go to waste.
The tour began with a scoop of ice cream, which they both devoured quickly, and he ended up with brain freeze.
“I want to do the Sprinkle Pool,” Maxie said as soon as they arrived and looked at the list of stops they could make inside the six-room building.
He laughed at her enthusiasm, glad to see her willing to let go. It’d been a long time since he allowed himself to do the same, and her enjoyment was infectious. He wasn’t sure how he felt about stepping into ice cream sprinkles and feeling them between his toes, but if that’s what she wanted, he was willing to give it a go.
“You sure?” He pointed to the crush of younger kids stomping around, although he had to admit there were a good share of adults, their age and older, joining them.
“We’re here, aren’t we? I want to experience everything.”
So, Lucas thought, did he. With her.
Unfortunately, his better judgment had taken hold earlier, and he’d pushed her away before things could go any further. The kiss was the hottest thing he’d experienced in his lifetime. And though he’d been building it up in his mind over the years, he had to admit finally having her in his arms had exceeded all expectations. He could only imagine what the next step would be like, viewing her body in all its naked glory, touching her bare skin, and tasting her tempting flesh.