To Love Someone (Baytown Boys #14) - Maryann Jordan Page 0,54

me at all. I might have a doctorate degree, but I spend my days up to my elbows in animal blood and poop, hoping there will be enough money to keep the clinic running.”

Her words had the desired effect as his lips quirked upward for a moment before somberness returned. She sucked in her lips, feeling like there was more. “You said partially. What else are you concerned about?”

He glanced to the side, his gaze not seeming to focus on anything in particular, and she gave him that play. Whatever was on his mind needed to come out in its own time.

Finally, he looked back at her and inclined his head toward the bed she was sitting on. “I’m concerned about this. What we’re about to do. Us. This attraction between us.”

“Okay…”

“Samantha, I like you a lot. I don’t see you as just a warm, willing body. But I also don’t want to take advantage of you. I don’t know what my plans are. I don’t know where home is. I’m renting an apartment from a buddy. The same buddy that I’m working for. My housing is transient. My job is transient.”

More understanding slid through her, now feeling colder than she had before. Nodding slowly, she said, “I see. What you’re telling me is there are no promises between us. What we have is for right now.” He held her gaze but didn’t speak, and she looked to the side, her thoughts whirling in her head. She thought of the time spent in her clinic. She thought of the fun times spent with friends. Then she thought of her little camper where she always went home alone. She thought of Joseph’s honesty as he was making sure she knew that being around next year, next month, next week… hell, even tomorrow wasn’t a guarantee.

Her eyes found his again, and she drowned in the warm intensity of his gaze. I just don’t want to be alone tonight.

He cocked his head slightly and asked, “Are you sure?”

Realizing she’d spoken her thoughts aloud, she nodded. “Whatever this is, whatever we have, I’m here for right now.” Not wanting to give him a chance to pull away, she leaned forward, erasing the space between them.

As soon as her lips landed on his, all hesitation disappeared. He stood but their lips stayed attached, and as he moved forward, she was pressed against the mattress onto her back. His body settled on top of hers, his heavy weight held off her chest by his forearms planted on either side of her torso. His hips were nestled between her thighs, his erection pressing against her core, and the weight felt comforting.

“Christ, I’m too heavy,” he mumbled, starting to slide to the side.

Clinging to his shoulders, she held him in place. “No, please. I love the feel of you right where you are.”

Her body began to burn, the heat trapped by their clothing. His kisses stole her senses, but she knew she wanted more. Her hands slid from around his neck, over his shoulders, to his chest where her fingers continued to unbutton his shirt. The last buttons were captured between their bodies, but she tried to drag the material over his shoulders and down his arms, nonetheless.

Once more, the air between them felt cold as he sat up quickly, ass to heels between her thighs. She started to protest but caught his grin as he finished unbuttoning his shirt and jerked it off. Like a feast laid out before her, she didn’t know where to look first. His thick, wavy hair that was falling about his strong jaw. His hazel eyes that stayed on her. The corded muscles of his arms, chest, and abs. The tattoos that snaked over his body. He was like a work of art, one that she could stare at forever and always find a different nuance.

“God, Joseph… you are so beautiful.” Her words were spoken with soft reverence.

He blinked and swallowed deeply. “You keep staring at me like that and this won’t last very long.”

“And how am I staring at you?”

“Like an onion ring going into the cheesy crab dip.”

A bark of laughter erupted, and her hands covered her face. “That’s embarrassing! But so true!”

His hands grasped her wrists and gently pulled them away from her face, bringing them toward his lips. He kissed and licked her fingertips before nipping one. “You even taste good.”

The feel of his tongue swirling around her fingers sent another shockwave of need to her core. Glancing