Captivating Witness

“And that’s why you’re helping me.”

“It’s in my job description to help people. And it’s in my nature, too.” He smiled. “I guess you could say that I habitually go out on a limb.”

“Oh.”

Did she sound a little disappointed? He thought she did. For a several moments, he was puzzled. Aside from her impulsive and ill-timed run through the forest, she hadn’t fought his assistance. Didn’t she want to be helped?

A strand of dark hair stuck to her cheek, and his hands itched to pull it away and tuck it behind her ear.

So glad it was her who came flying out in front of my car.

The thought—a little absent, a little ridiculous—made him pause as he clued in to a possible explanation for her let-down tone. Maybe she was glad he’d been on the saving side of things, too.

He reached across the bed and squeezed her hand, and another jolt of electric attraction passed from her fingers to his. “Hey. Can’t say I’m not enjoying helping you. If I had to pick who to rescue in Whispering Woods, you’d be at the top of the list.”

Her eyes lit up. “Maybe you just haven’t seen enough of what Whispering Woods has to offer. Have you met Wanda from the health food store?”

“Don’t think I have. Don’t think I need to.”

“What about Sarah at the grocery store?”

“Nope.” He slid his palm from her hand to her forearm, liking the tiny shiver the action produced.

“Olivia at the gas station?” Her question came out a little breathless.

“Uh-uh.” He dragged his fingers up to her elbow, then past it, and inched closer.

“Ummmmm.” She dragged out the sound like she’d forgotten what she was going to say next.

“Um?”

“Helen. Down at the bike rental place?”

“Didn’t catch my eye.”

“Oh.”

Brayden stared down Reggie, admiring her upturned mouth. Her green eyes danced with amusement, and they flicked from his gaze to his lips—where they hung for a moment—then back again. Then the amusement was gone. In its place was something warm. Something interested. Something interesting.

Undisguised desire.

Brayden placed the look two seconds before she lifted her hand to touch his cheek and pushed forward, tipping her face to his. Automatically, he bent down to close the gap between them. Her eyes dropped shut, and he covered her lips with his in a kiss. It was meant to be gentle. Exploratory. A question, maybe.

Is this what you want?

The second his mouth touched hers, though, his silent query flew away. His ability to hold back went with it.

Her lips were soft and sweet. Still a little bit salty with sweat from her crazy run the night before. Far warmer than the air around them. Brayden devoured them. He sucked the top one, then the bottom. When she let out a little gasp, he took advantage and swiped his tongue between them, and the inside of her mouth was hotter still.

The tray of discarded dishes slid sideways and clattered to the ground as her fingers came up to the back of his neck. She rubbed the short edges of his hair, and Brayden met the attention eagerly. He pressed his palms to the small of her back and held her there, marveling at how right it felt. How natural. Like she wasn’t a woman he’d met just a half a day ago. So much so that it took most of his willpower just to break away.

“We should get going,” he said against her mouth.

She tipped her face up, her lids still low, her expression noticeably disappointed. “Okay.”

“Not because I wouldn’t rather be doing this. But because we need to stick to the plan and keep to your schedule.”

“And we don’t want to arouse any suspicion.”

“Right.”

“So we should probably let each other go.”

“Probably.”

“All right.”

Except he couldn’t quite make himself do it. Instead, he kissed her again. A little more slowly this time, but no less thoroughly. Her grip on him tightened, and she dragged him with her as she eased backward onto the mattress. He was almost—but not quite—on top of her now, one knee resting between her thighs as he held himself up with one elbow. He deepened the kiss even further, his body molding to hers. Her petite frame fit perfectly against his large one. There should’ve been a contrast. An imperfection. Instead, it was the opposite. Like they were built to complement one another.

She let out a little gasp, and he pulled his mouth from hers and dropped it to her jawline instead. He traced the line of it with his lips. The pleasant taste of her exploded in his mouth and made him want more. So he indulged. He nipped at her ear, then ran his tongue down her throat to her clavicle. He tugged on the sensitive skin there while his free hand roamed over her body.