Page 104 of Smoke Screen
Uh, yeah.“Wow, Maddy. Don’t sound so shocked. The question should be whywouldn’tI want to? Especially after telling me you’re throwing yourself at me. Way to send a guy to his knees.”
Ach. Bad choice of words because now his thoughts went there. Him on his knees. In front of a naked Maddy.
Oooh—eeee.
He blew out a hard breath, wiped sweat beading on his upper lip. Christ, that sun coming through his windows was hot.
Apparently reading his mind, Maddy got to her feet, standing in front of the sofa and leaning over, bringing her lips dangerously close to his. “On your knees, huh?”
Oh, yeah. She wanted to play.
He inched closer, felt her breath on his lips, and met her eye. “Yep. And you’re naked.”
She kissed him. Just whammo, let him have it. Tongue and all and Phin’s body did theI’m-getting-laidhappy dance, sending a massive blood rush ricocheting in all directions.
Dang, he loved the happy dance.
Except … trauma. Today, they’d watched a man get murdered.
He backed away, put his hands up. “Hold on.”
“No.”
She made a move to kiss him again, and he laughed, backing away. “Seriously, are you good? Because I’ll make you come in ways you never imagined. Multiple times. But, honest to God, Maddy, if you wake up tomorrow and regret it, I’ll be devastated.”
Since when did women devastate him? And since when had he gone soft?
What. The. Fuck?
She straightened, standing over him and peering down. Yep. He’d done it. Gave her enough reason to think he was a pansy psycho getting way too attached way too early. Now she’d leave. Run like hell from the idiot who’d blown a perfectly amazing moment.
She held her hand out and he peered up at her, drilling her with a look because he needed to know. Needed to hear it.
“Phin,” she said, “between the two of us, we’re thinking way too hard. I’m fine. You’re fine. I’m not concussed. I have more clarity than I’ve felt in a really long time. So, shut up and take me to bed.”
Alrighty then. Talking over.
He popped to his feet, took her hand, and nearly sprinted to his bedroom where, hey, at least he’d made the bed this morning. Even if he’d left his dirty laundry basket out, clothes strewn over the top.
Behind him, Maddy giggled. Giggled. And what a great sound that was coming from the ultra-mature Maddy.
He pushed the bedroom door open. When he’d left that morning, he’d thrown the curtains open and now the view of the mountain filled his vision.
First time.
It hit him at that exact moment. The view, the laundry, the bed.
First time.
Not just with Maddy. Bringing a woman here. To his home. To his bed. Something he never shared.
He shook it off. Thinking too much. Just like she’d said.
He let go of her hand, closed and locked the door behind them in case one of his brothers walked in. He moved the laundry basket. “Sorry. I wasn’t … uh … expecting company.”
She waved it off. “It’s okay.”
He needed to get himself together. He’d done this a million times. Well, maybe not a million, but a lot. His body basically operating on rote. Knowing exactly when to lean in, where to touch, how to move. Over and over, time and time again, he’d performed. A freaking circus act.
