to try to unclasp her bra—not that she would allow that liberty, of course—but he lowered his hands to her waist and simply continued to kiss her.
After a moment, she gave in to temptation and wrapped her arms more tightly around his neck, dragging him closer, drinking him in.
When they finally came up for air, she leaned her forehead against his. “That’s one.”
Cole’s brow lifted.
“Our lips stayed connected,” Meg said, trying not to sound defensive. “That makes it one kiss.”
His mouth—that wonderful, delightful mouth—widened into a smile. “I like the way you count.”
She played with the strands of his hair, her breath coming in short puffs. Dear God, if she got this excited over kissing the man, what would it be like if they made love? No need to go there, she told herself. Her body unfortunately seemed to have developed a mind of its own.
“The kiss helped. My thoughts are clearer,” he said. “I now see why you think making love would be a mistake.”
“Really?” Was that disappointment she heard in her voice?
His gaze turned sharp and assessing. A slow smile lifted his lips. “Actually, no. I believe I need another kiss before I come to such an important conclusion.”
Meg knew he was teasing her but she didn’t care. She wanted another kiss. And another. And maybe one more for good measure.
“Perhaps—” she brought a finger to the lips that still tingled from his touch “—taking the kiss a little…deeper might give clarity.”
His eyes danced. “Let’s give it a try.”
Without waiting for her response, Cole tilted her head back, teasing the fullness of her lower lip with his tongue. He tasted like the most delicious, decadent candy Meg had ever eaten.
She parted her lips and he immediately changed the angle of the kiss and plunged inside, claiming her mouth. His tongue circled and danced with hers. She did the same to him, each touch, each tingle reinforcing the possibilities.
Her fingers trembled as she caressed his face, his hair. Her head spun. If he hadn’t been holding her so tight she’d have lost her footing.
Then suddenly the kiss ended and her head was on his shoulder. The only thing she was aware of was the beating of her heart mingled with his.
Two kisses. She’d promised herself she’d stop at two. Or was it three?
A sigh escaped her lips.
“Hey.” He tipped her head back with a curled finger, his blue eyes dark and filled with concern. “What’s wrong?”
Meg thought of the weeks, months and maybe even years that had been filled with regret over what could have been. Sure, she’d survived and had moved on with her life. Still, every now and then she hadn’t been able to stop herself from looking back. Even at sixteen, she’d recognized that the relationship between her and Cole was special. She’d firmly believed that, given the right time and place, they could have gone the distance.
“Meg?” he prompted.
It all became clear. She and Cole had been given a second chance.
She was apprehensive, of course. After how their relationship had ended before, who wouldn’t be? But a lot had happened in both their lives since that time.
Meg understood Cole better now than she had back then.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said.
“Flattery,” she said slowly and distinctly so there could be no misunderstanding, “will get you everything.”
He cocked his head. “Everything?”
The rightness of the decision washed over her. “We can discuss this further at your place.”
There was a beat of silence. Confusion filled his gaze. “Uh, this is my place.”
Meg giggled. Honest to goodness giggled. If she hadn’t heard it herself she’d never have believed it. “Your place, as in your bedroom.”
In case she still hadn’t made herself clear, Meg pulled his face down with her hand and gave him a ferocious kiss. The type of kiss that tells a man “I want you now.”
She’d learned long ago that regret over something you wished you’d said or done but no longer had the chance to do was its own kind of hell. She wasn’t letting this opportunity pass her by.
Cole seemed equally determined to seize the moment. He locked his hand around her elbow and propelled her into the bedroom, only stopping to close and lock the door behind them.
Usually Meg was the poster child of calm, but tonight she was a tangled mess of wants and desires. Her need for him a stark carnal hunger she hadn’t known she was capable of feeling.
“This better not take too long or I’m going to combust,” she murmured and