with me.”
“Such as what?” The words had left Mina’s mouth before she noticed his expression. Then he reached out and grip on her forearm and she was spun around, an arm clamped about her waist and Will Nye’s large hand resting against her jaw. Oh, he meant kissing, Mina realized mere moments before his lips descended to hers.
Oh dear, she thought distractedly, what was it he had told her to do last time? Breathe through her nose, she seemed to recall. Then she noticed his lips were much gentler this time, touching tentatively to hers, exerting much less pressure. Not wanting him to accuse her of not pulling her weight, she tilted her head up and leaned into the kiss.
Nye made a noise in his throat that was not a growl, but something very close. Mina’s head reeled. Reaching her arms up to wrap about him, she realized she held a cup in each hand, hampering her somewhat, but she flung them around his neck anyway.
Nye’s body went taut and he shifted, whirling her around so she was the one now leaning back against the kitchen table. Then his intimidating bunk stepped forward, making her breathless and a little alarmed. If not for the barrier of her skirts, he would be planted between her legs, she realized faintly.
“Nye—” Mina breathed, but his hands were on either side of her face, angling her head up for his kiss. This time when he sealed his lips to hers, she felt his tongue swipe slowly along her bottom lip and jolted with shock. That was it! Last time he had said he wanted a taste of her tongue. Her face flamed hot. No sooner had she let her lips part for him then her mouth was thoroughly taken.
Her eyes closed, Mina gave a muffled gasp, before remembering to breathe through her nose. One of the cups fell from her loosened grip and shattered on the kitchen floor. Nye didn’t even flinch. One of his hands lowered from her jaw to grip her waist and then skimmed as much of a hip as her stiffened petticoats allowed. He made a noise of frustration. Then his tongue was tangling against hers again and Mina’s mind went blank.
What was happening? Every fiber in her being was surging forward to press shamefully close to Will Nye’s big, hard, body. She could not get close enough to him. His large hand gripping her waist was strangely comforting as it squeezed and relaxed there. She moaned against his mouth, startling herself so badly that she tore her mouth from his and stared up at him in horror.
“Was that me?” she blurted, trying to retreat.
“Stay still,” he ground out. “There’s broken china at your feet.”
Mina blinked at him, then lowered her gaze to the jagged pieces lying on the floor. “Oh,” she said. It was only then she realized she had dropped both cups. And apparently Nye had been fully aware of the fact, unlike her. She bit her lip. “What will I tell Edna?”
He gave a short laugh, releasing her with a show of reluctance. “Tell her I took you by surprise.”
Well, that was true enough, she thought, watching him fetch a shovel and brush.
“The kettle’s likely boiled,” he said, and Mina started, dropping the fingers she had pressed to her lips.
“I’ll fetch more cups,” she said, hastily stepping around him as he swept up the last of the fragments. How embarrassing. She set the cups on the table and then poured the hot water into the teapot with hands that shook. He stepped outside to dump the remains, then came back inside, shutting the door behind him. Mina set the teapot onto the table to brew and hastily sank into a chair. Nye rounded the table and opposite her.
“Are you serving behind the bar tonight?” she forced herself to ask. It trembled on her tongue to ask was if he intended to sleep in her bed again. He shook his head, watching her intently. “I’m just letting the tea brew,” she said, feeling the silence lie heavy on her. Nye didn’t comment, just lolled back in his chair, never taking his eyes from her.
Mina doled out the milk and sugar and after checking the strength, poured the tea. Once she’d pushed a cup across to Nye, she took a deep breath. “So,” she said, taking the bit between her teeth. “Should we discuss these additional duties that I’ll be picking up now?”
His eyes flared, then he lowered his