Page 11 of Mountain Man's Angel
Betty smiles. "You got it. I’ll put it on your tab. Thank you very much."
I raise an eyebrow after she leaves the table. "Was that your code for a 50% tip?" I ask.
"So observant." He squeezes my knee gently, then leaves his palm on top of the thin fabric of my dress. Feeling his warmth on my skin sends spirals of desire through my lower belly. "There's no sneaking anything past you."
"Nope. So don't even try." We lean in close, pressing our shoulders together. His thumb gently rubs back and forth against my outer thigh, making my breath catch. "Thank you for lunch," I murmur. "It's been a lovely day."
When we return to his truck, Thane starts to help me in, then pauses. His thick arm wraps around me, pulling me close. As our lips seal together in a breathless, frantic kiss, it vaguely occurs to me that we're right out on the street. Everyone around here seems to know him.
Is the word going to spread that he’s been spending time with a girl who’s not from around here? Thankfully, the odds are slim that anyone will know about my family. But Thane seems like a bit of a loner. I bet it’s juicy gossip for him to be seen with anyone.
But all my mental chatter shuts off as Thane continues to hold me tightly, tilting his head to devour my lips with such hunger that my knees nearly buckle. Not that I’m worried I would fall: his tree-trunk arms support my weight easily.
"So beautiful," he murmurs, his mouth against mine, searching for even more contact. "Sexy as hell, and I don't think you even realize it."
"You make me feel sexy." My hands move up his chest, exploring the thick planes of carved muscle. Then my hand slips up to stroke his short beard. I’m surprised it's softer than I expected.
Thane’s fingers tighten against my hip and my back, keeping me where I am as he steps back a few inches. "Sorry," he mutters.
"Nothing to be sorry for."
His eyes blaze. "Trying to control myself around you is…well, an uphill battle, to be honest." We both laugh, then he helps me into the truck. Once we're on the road, he says, "I'm going to take you home before I get any more naughty ideas."
I want him to get naughty ideas. I want him to come to my room and explain every single one of them in great detail. But he’s trying so hard to be honorable. It’s sweet.
"I'm gonna take you home, kiss the hell out of you for exactly one minute, then leave you to work on your sound stuff."
"Sounds like you have very strict ideas."
He glances toward me. "I'm trying, angel. I really am.”
For the rest of the drive, even though we're chatting about old songs we still love, or what films are best to watch when trapped in a blizzard, my mind is wandering.
We reach the inn, and Thane walks me right to my door. The entire building is quiet. Before I can ask if he wants to come in, his warm palm presses against my lower back, caressing gently.
“Just one kiss,” he rasps, his dark eyes burning into mine.
“Anything you like.”
A visible shudder ripples through his massive frame as he grins darkly. “Don’t say things like that, gorgeous. You’ll give me ideas that’ll stop me from sleeping tonight.”
The thought of Thane thinking about me while lying in his bed sends slivers of fire prickling through my skin. I lightly caress his soft beard, then let my fingers glide into the back of his hair.
His lips lock with mine as my breath grows frantic. Needy. Our bodies press together, shifting closer, my mind spinning with desire. What will happen when he finally stops being polite? Stops keeping himself from letting his urges loose?
I can feel how much he wants me. Not just from the thick erection pressing against my belly, or the tension in his hands as he holds me, molding my skin under his touch, but from his stuttering breath and his glazed, half-closed eyes. This magnetic force is clearly taking hold of us both.
Thane pulls away far too quickly for my liking, and a soft whine escapes my throat. “I know, my angel. Soon.” His lips brush the top of my hair, then he winks and strides away down the hall.
My hands shake as I fumble for my room key.
He called me angel.
Hisangel.
7
THANE
