Seduce and Rescue

Without thinking, he tucked his knuckle under her chin and lifted her face. “I’ve lost friends in battle, too. It’s never okay.”

Her eyes filled with tears, and before he could stop her, she stepped close and wrapped her arms around his waist. “No one’s ever said that before. But it’s true, isn’t it?”

Just as he was regretting the rare moment of spontaneity, she sniffed and stepped back. “Thank you.” She pulled her shirt up and wiped the tears off her cheeks, and then gave him a brilliant smile. “Well, so much for helping you have fun tonight.”

Stunned, he stared at her, his arms still held away from his body. He’d liked having her cheek against his chest. He’d liked the feel of her body pressed to his.

She took a deep breath. “Okay. Let’s go home now.”

Relieved, he pointed their cart full of goodies toward the front before she changed her mind.

AFTER REHEATING AND offering him the tofu burgers, which he declined, Lily began setting up the cage for the guinea pig.

Ethan retreated to his weight room and worked out an extra fifteen minutes, then went a couple rounds with his punching bag for good measure. After a quick shower, he slipped on jeans and a T-shirt and braved the main room.

She was messing with the rodent when he entered the kitchen. “Good night.”

“You’re going to bed?” She abandoned the cage and stood.

Ethan tried to look away, but his gaze wouldn’t obey his survival instincts. She’d changed into a pair of oversize men’s boxers and a tight tank top. And she must have showered earlier while he was working out, because her hair was damp. It was swept up off her neck, all her strawberry curls held with a clip. She smelled like some kind of sweet flower.

He glanced at his watch. “It’s ten o’clock.”

“And you always go to bed at ten?”

Always. He shrugged. “Usually.”

“But you haven’t eaten anything.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Would you like that glass of wine? It’s—”

“I don’t drink.”

She blinked. “Ever?”

“No.”

“Are you … a recovering alcoholic?”

He frowned. “No.”

“You have some religious strictures against alcoholic beverages?”

Where was this going? “No.”

“Oh.” She cocked her head, studying him.

There was an awkward silence, and all Ethan could think about was how she’d looked this morning.

“Well …” He gave her a curt nod. “Good n—”

“Wait.” She rushed to the refrigerator, opened it and bent over to pull out one of his dinner plates. “I almost forgot. I made this for you.” On the plate was a crusty golden cake with whipped cream and strawberries on top.

Ethan’s stomach growled and his mouth watered. “Is that—”

“Strawberry shortcake.” She confirmed his suspicion with a grin. His all-time-favorite dessert. How had she known?

Setting it on the counter, she turned to grab a smaller plate from the cabinet and his largest chopping knife from the block. “Please say you’ll eat just a bite.”

Ethan told himself he didn’t want to hurt her feelings. And he was weak from hunger. He reached over the counter, swiped a fork from a drawer and dropped onto one of the bar stools.

Before he knew it he’d finished off two huge slices and was licking the fork. Suddenly, he realized Lily was sitting beside him, sucking on a strawberry, watching him with half-closed eyes.

Swirling her tongue around the red fruit, she wrapped her lips around the fat end. Then she closed her eyes and moaned as she bit into it and chewed.

That was the oldest trick in the book. But there was a reason women still used it. Because it worked.

He stared at her, fighting the pull, fighting the need.

Her tongue swept a trickle of juice from her lips, and Ethan groaned. A man could take only so much temptation. He grasped her shoulders and pulled her against him, watching her mouth part in surprise right before he took possession of it.

She opened up to him as if she’d been waiting all her life for him to kiss her, wrapping her arms around his neck and rubbing her stiff nipples against his chest.

That trampled the last vestiges of his control. He slid an arm around her back and crushed her to him, devouring her mouth, bruising her lips. She whimpered, which only served to ratchet up his lust. His cock surged and pulsed. It’d been too long since he’d been with a woman, and his body was making up for lost time. His free hand cupped her breast and squeezed, his thumb rubbing across the puckered peak. She was a perfect fit, filling his palm. So soft, yet firm. He wanted a taste.

He stood, lifting her with him, and carried her to the couch. Shoving pillows out of the way, he laid her down, dropping on top of her. His lips moved over hers and his tongue swept in to taste her whipped cream and strawberries. But he wanted more. He had to taste her breasts, and lick the pink nipples that he’d seen in his mind all day long.

“Wait, Ethan,” she murmured as he kissed his way down her neck, lifting her tank top to expose the soft globes. She tried to pull away, but he held fast, denying her release. His body was in command, his cock straining for completion of the act. Needing to touch her flesh, he brought his mouth to one tight peak and suckled.

“Hold on.” She wriggled beneath him. “Hold on!” She brought her palms to either side of his face and tried to push him off, but he only growled and moved to nip at her other breast while his hands slipped beneath her boxers, cupped her butt and pressed her against his hard, aching erection.

“Ethan,” she gasped, fear in her voice.

The haze of lust cleared. He froze, shocked, and lifted himself off her. He was shaking. What was he doing, forcing himself on a woman? Had he lost his mind?

No. He’d lost the ability to reason. And that was why he never allowed himself to be this much out of control.