The Rebound - Noelle Adams Page 0,6

in her throat—soft and sweet and sensual—as she responded to the kiss. Her mouth opened to his tongue, and her hand lifted to curve around the back of his neck. She pressed her soft body against his with an intoxicating eagerness that left him hard as a rock in his pants.

Needing to feel even more of her, his other hand slid down until he could feel the curve of her ass. He rubbed her there shamelessly, loving how she made pretty moans of pleasure into the kiss—completely ignoring the fact that they were in the corner of a public library and anyone could walk back and catch them going at it like horny teenagers.

His hand moved some more until he was caressing the side of her breast through her top. He couldn’t get his hands on her the way he really wanted. She was wearing too many clothes. Plus they were in public.

He wasn’t sure what would have happened—he probably would have ended up doing something embarrassing and completely inappropriate—had Madeline not pulled away abruptly.

She stared at him with big, wild eyes, red cheeks, and mussed hair. She was panting loudly. She was so scrumptious he wanted to just swallow her down.

He figured he probably looked similarly aroused and affected. He was definitely hard—so much so it was almost painful. But she’d pulled away, so he kept his hands clenched at his side.

“Where did that come from?” she breathed at last.

“I... I have no idea.” He was telling her the truth. He’d always liked her and thought she was beautiful, and he’d never wanted her like that.

“I don’t... I don’t understand.”

With the sheer force of his will, he managed to shake off the worst of the arousal. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes until his erection slackened a little.

When he opened them again, Madeline was looking at him in concern. “You okay?”

His chest hurt from her sweetness. “Yeah. I’m fine.” Making a sudden decision, he leaned over and gave her another kiss. This was soft and short and light. “I don’t know where this came from, but I’m okay with it if you are. So if you decide you want to have some fun—be a little bad—then all you have to do is ask. I can help you feel free. It wouldn’t have to mean anything else unless you wanted it to.”

Her lips parted slightly in what was obviously surprise. She didn’t answer immediately.

Suddenly self-conscious, Ken decided he’d said enough. Probably way too much. He couldn’t believe he’d had the courage to suggest something like that to a woman like Madeline Jenkins.

He wasn’t a player. He didn’t sleep around. He only had sex in relationships. He wasn’t even a very good flirt.

But he’d said what he’d said, and now there was no taking it back. He wasn’t even sure he wanted to. So he gave her a little smile and a last stroke of her warm cheek before he took his books and went to check them out.

She probably wouldn’t want to do anything more with him. She should be with someone younger. Smarter. Deeper. Someone more like her.

And that was fine. He’d gotten to kiss her, and he wouldn’t have missed that for the world.

Now he’d get to remember it when he closed his eyes at night. It would have to be enough because it would be foolish to hope for anything more.

Two

MADELINE SPENT ALL night and the following day full of flutters.

Wild, crazy flutters.

She couldn’t believe she’d made out with the sheriff in the back corner of the library. Couldn’t believe it was unquestionably the hottest thing she’d ever done. Thank God no one saw them. That would have been incredibly awkward. What would she even say about it? I’m not sure what got into me. I just suddenly got the urge for a crazy hot kiss with a man I’ve known since I was fourteen in a completely inappropriate location.

And why had Ken even done it? What had he been thinking? He’d said he was available for some fun if she was interested. He’d help her be bad. Feel free.

As far as she’d ever known, Ken had always been a good guy. Stable. Responsible. Respected. He still had a good relationship with his ex-wife and seemed to be a great dad to his little girls. There were never any rumors about him. He didn’t appear to get around with a lot of women. He should not have randomly kissed her in the back of