his brows rose, revealing the tumult rolling in the dark depths of his eyes.
She tugged him again and leaned in. She wanted to say, “Just kiss me.” But she wasn’t that bold. Instead, she prayed he could read the message in her tentative smile.
Before she could catch her breath, he moved so swiftly and strongly she felt as if he’d knocked her completely off her feet. He captured her face between both large hands and brought his lips down against hers. This time, his kiss was powerful, his mouth open and demanding.
His lips unlocked her own passion, unleashed something she’d never known was inside her. As his hands moved from her face to her hair and then down her back, she was helpless to do anything but wrap her arms around him in return. All the while, his mouth never wavered from hers. His lips pressed harder until her body was on fire with a need for him she didn’t understand.
“Oh.” She couldn’t contain the soft gasp against his hungry lips. The gasp brought his hands back up to her hair, to her neck, as if he couldn’t get enough of her. Each brush of his fingers was invitation to kiss him more deeply, to take him in, to love him.
Love him?
Her kiss stilled for a moment. But it was apparently long enough for him to sense her hesitancy. He wrenched his mouth from hers and pulled back a fraction so that his labored breaths bathed her mouth.
“Now that was a kiss worthy of the Cushman name,” James said, grinning.
Zelma was beaming.
Suddenly Victoria was more mortified than she’d ever been in her life. She’d just kissed their son, and not a chaste little kiss. But a passionate long kiss that had involved lots of touching and even her gasp.
She couldn’t look either of them in the eyes. She doubted she’d ever be able to again. Or look Tom in the eyes. What must he think of her now after she’d thrown herself into his arms?
“Let’s say the blessing,” James said, “and eat before the food gets cold.”
“Good idea, dear,” Zelma said.
Tom slowly released his grip on her. His breathing was still ragged, and he seemed almost reluctant to pull away.
“Of course, we can always put yours in the warming oven for later.” James waggled his eyebrows at Tom.
Tom sat back in his chair, unable to hide a ripple of embarrassment that crossed his face. “No, Dad. We’ll eat now.”
Somehow Victoria made it through the meal. She wasn’t sure how she managed to speak coherently. Or how she managed to swallow any of the food. She certainly didn’t taste a single thing. All she could think about was the fact that Tom was only inches away. She could feel the heat from his leg when it brushed against hers under the table. And when he reached for a second biscuit and his arm touched her, she almost gasped again.
She was relieved when dinner was finally over. As she rose to begin clearing the table, James waved her away.
“Go on,” Zelma said. “We’ll clean up. You two go spend some time together.”
James chuckled. “Yeah, go burn off that heat.”
Victoria froze, her hand on the plate in front of her. Was the heat that noticeable? A flush crept up her neck, and she had the sudden urge to flee and hide until she could cool down and think more rationally.
Tom touched her arm, and she jumped. “Come on,” he said, holding out a hand.
He wasn’t planning to lead her upstairs to the bedroom, was he? For more of that kind of kissing? Her pulse jumped from both nervousness and desire.
“Let’s go for a walk.” His eyes were a warm blue that held only tenderness. No anger. No aloofness. No shame. No regret.
“That sounds nice.” She took his hand, and when his fingers closed around hers, she couldn’t help thinking of those same fingers touching her back, neck, and waist. She’d liked it. Very much.
And she liked the gentle pressure of his hand against hers as he led her out the house and down to the path to the beach. The horizon was clear, not a boat in sight. The summer evening was still warm from the day, but the brilliance of the sun was beginning to fade, promising a cooler night. When they reached the shore, he kicked off his boots and pulled off his socks before rolling up his trousers.
She laughed at the sight of his bare ankles and calves. “You look