Rogue Beast (The Rourkes #12) - Kylie Gilmore Page 0,48
not trying too hard, or you never would’ve been a scared rabbit earlier.”
“I was not a scared rabbit,” I say through my teeth.
He leans toward my ear, and I wait for his whispered comeback that I’m sure will throw me off, but instead his lips graze my neck. My knees go weak.
He meets my eyes and brushes his thumb over my lower lip. “That’s right. You’re my lamb chop.”
I’m speechless. He takes my hand and guides me toward the sofa. I follow blindly, anticipation racing through me. Maybe I am his lamb chop.
I halt, nerves racing through me. I’d better stall, shorten the window of opportunity from kissing to naked. “I need to freshen up.”
“Sure.” He takes a seat on the sofa, leaning back and pulling his phone out.
I blow out a breath and head to the bathroom. After several minutes, I emerge with a minty clean mouth, fresh makeup, and a new determination. I will take charge of the evening. I’m not going to sit there, a bundle of nerves, trying to restrain myself. There’s something very specific I want from him.
I return to the living room, standing across from the sofa, leaving a coffee table between us. “We still have some time.”
“Yup.”
I gird my loins. “I’d like to see you shirtless.”
13
Harper
He flashes a smile that he quickly covers. “And why is that?”
I gesture toward him. “Because everyone else gets to see you shirtless in that commercial. It seems only fair.”
He stands, his eyes burning into mine as he closes the distance. “I dunno, Harper,” he drawls.
“It’s up to you, of course. No pressure.” Wow. I feel like the guy here, orchestrating the journey into the physical.
He stops just out of reach, and I stare at the exposed tanned skin at the top of his shirt. He left the top two buttons undone. I’m so tempted to unbutton it myself, but I want him to feel comfortable with it. Of course he’s comfortable with it! He took off his shirt in front of total strangers!
He waits until I meet his eyes before saying in a teasing voice, “It seems a little fast for a first date.” He unbuttons the third button, giving me a glimpse of his pecs. “Not sure how I feel about it.”
Another button.
I close the distance, fascinated. I’ve seen muscular man chest before, but nothing like his. He looks like a warrior—wide shoulders and broad barrel chest. I could totally picture him wielding a sword.
“Keep going,” I whisper.
“Enjoying the view?” he asks in a husky voice, undoing another button. His rippling abs appear in front of my hungry eyes.
“More,” I say.
“I’m running out of buttons.” He finishes the last one, the shirt gaping wide open, but still tucked into his dress pants, obstructing my view.
I untuck the shirt and push it open. Wow, just…wow. There’s ridges upon ridges. His abs lead to a deep V that disappears under the waistline of his pants. I’m torn between asking for the pants to come off or just exploring what he’s offering.
He cups my jaw, bringing my gaze to his. “What’s next?”
“I want to touch you, but I don’t want you to move.”
“Go for it.”
I peel his shirt off, my fingers brushing his heated skin. I fold the shirt neatly in half and drop it on the coffee table before turning back to him. Now he’s all mine. I place my palms on his chest and then roam, enjoying the play of hard muscle. His breath comes harder as I get bolder, flicking my fingers over his flat nipples, sliding down his sides, tracing the deep V I’m dying to follow all the way down. I glance at the bulge in his pants before lifting my gaze back to his.
“You’re every bit as gorgeous as Josie said,” I say, letting my hands roam back up and over his massive shoulders.
He closes his eyes, a strained expression on his face. “Please don’t bring up Josie. She’s like a sister to me. It fucks with my head.”
I wrap my arms around him, enjoying the hard planes of muscle on his back. “Sorry. You feel like a warrior, strong and sturdy. I could see you slaying a dragon.”
His eyes are intent on mine. “I’d slay a dragon for you, Harper.”
I get chills, some primal part of me loving that he’d be that protector for me. “I believe you would.”
“You know it’s torture just standing still while you feel me up. Shirt’s going back on.”