Page 97 of Sit, Stay, Love
‘With the dating, if that’s what we’re doing, or at least the kissing… and then giving me money.’
He shrugged a shoulder. ‘I’m not giving it to you. I’m donating to Rose’s Rescue. It’s a business expense. It’s all legit and tax deductible, and the training we’re doing with the dogs is classed as development.’ He leaned in closer and whispered, ‘Don’t worry, your kisses are free. And mine are one hundred per cent real.’ He pulled her onto his lap. ‘Does that make you feel better?’
It didn’t, not completely. She still had a lot of complicated emotions around it, but as the money was for the shelter, she’d learn to be okay with it. So she nodded.
‘Good,’ he said, and quickly met her lips with his.
Sera melted into the kiss. His arms wrapped around her and held her tight to his chest, his mouth still on hers as he slowly guided her backwards until they were fully lying down. He slipped a cushion under her head and hovered above her, his hips teasingly undulating, pushing forward and back, the friction making her stifle a moan.
Warm shivers coursed through her as he moved languidly over her body, his face nuzzling the side of her throat, before he pulled the neck of her t-shirt away and placed tiny kiss after tiny kiss along her collarbone.
Her fingertips dug into his shoulders and he gazed at her, pupils consuming his eyes. He raised his brows in question, his fingers toying with the soft cotton of the hem of her t-shirt.
She bit her lip and nodded. She wanted to feel more of his skin on hers, and the t-shirt was definitely getting in the way.
Sliding down her breasts, his face pressed into the dip of her cleavage with a tiny kiss. Then he glided over her stomach, stopping at her belly button as he slowly lifted the offending piece of clothing.
Velvet lips pressed to her tummy, and she tensed at the tickle of his hot mouth on her bare skin. Then he moved his lips to her hip bone, dragging them along her waist as he rolled her shirt up bit by bit. When his mouth found the exposed flesh of her breast, she arched her back, gasping.
He teased the edge of her bra, his lips barely grazing her skin. His fingers soft and insistent against the lacy material, sliding under the wire just a little as he caressed her delicate flesh.
She gasped again, louder this time, and squeezed her thighs together, the heat pulsing between them almost too much to bear.
When her phone rang, her entire body jolted and her eyes sprung open.
‘Leave it,’ he growled against her skin.
‘I… can’t,’ she stuttered through uneven breaths. ‘It might be… an… emergency.’
He turned his head sideways and leaned towards the table to look at her phone.
‘It’s only McManus,’ he said, his lips returning to just below her breasts.
A shockwave of guilt pulsed through her. She quickly pushed up, almost flinging Ethan to the floor.
He shot out a hand, palm down on the rug, to stop himself from sliding off the couch. Then he raised himself up, flicked his eyes at her, and sat back against the cushions with a shake of his head, his arms folded across his chest.
‘Sorry.’ She scrambled for her phone. ‘It really might be an emergency.’
‘Sure.’ He waved his hand and shook his head again.
‘Where were you?’ Toby asked once she finally hit answer.
Her cheeks throbbed with heat and she pressed the phone to her ear. ‘I was in another room. Ethan’s here, we’re discussing the fundraiser.’ Sheglanced sideways at Ethan and saw him close his eyes and rub two fingers across his brow.
‘James is there?’
‘Mm-hm.’
‘I take it you’ve forgiven him, then.’
‘Yep.’
Ethan sniffed. ‘I’m getting a drink. Do you want anything?’
She shook her head and smiled, then stared at his back as he stalked from the room.
She squeezed her eyes shut. ‘What’s up, Herriot?’
