The Naughty List Bundle - Kylie Adams [43]
Honey lifted the cat onto her lap and stroked her, being especially careful with her bandaged tail. “So I know you won’t kiss me again, but I still don’t know why you did in the first place.”
Watching her pet the cat mesmerized him—until she spoke, breaking the spell with her unsettling question. He didn’t want to answer her because he knew it would somehow complicate things further. But she had that stubborn, set look again, and he figured she wouldn’t go to bed until he satisfied her curiosity. He crossed his arms over his chest and studied her while searching for the right words. “I kissed you because I couldn’t seem to stop myself.”
“But why?”
He growled, “Because you’re quick-witted and sweet and you have more courage than’s good for you.And you’re stubborn and you make me nuts with your secrets.” Almost reluctantly, he admitted, “And you smell damn good.”
She stared up at him, bemused. “You kissed me because I annoy you with my stubbornness and…and my courage?”
He gave a sharp nod. “And as I said, you’re smart and you smell good. Incredibly good.”
“But I thought—”
“I know what you thought.” She’d complained about smelling like the lake when to him, she’d smelled like herself, a woman he wanted.
He started to ask her why she’d kissed him back, because she had. She’d nearly singed his eyebrows with the way she’d clung to him, how her mouth had moved under his, the way she’d greedily accepted his tongue, curling her own around it.
He shuddered, then headed for the door, escape his only option. Somehow he knew he’d be better off not knowing what had motivated her. “I won’t sleep in here tonight, but if you need anything just let me know. I’m using the front bedroom.”
She rushed to her feet. “I hadn’t thought…I didn’t mean to chase you out of your own room!”
There was so much guilt in her face, he slowed for just a heartbeat. “You didn’t chase me out. I just figured since you were already settled…”
“I’ll switch rooms.” She took an anxious step toward him. “You shouldn’t have to be inconvenienced on my account.”
He hesitated a moment more, caught between wanting to reassure her and knowing he had to put distance between them. “It’s not a problem. Good night.”
She started to say something else, but he pulled the door shut. Truth was, he liked knowing she was in his bed. He didn’t know if he’d ever be able to sleep there again without thinking of her—and dreaming.
7
THE HOUSE was eerily quiet as she slipped the bedroom door open, using only the moonlight filtering in through the French doors to guide her way. Though she hadn’t lied about being exhausted, she hadn’t slept. The clean sheets no longer smelled of Sawyer’s crisp, masculine scent. She’d resented the loss.
She listened with her ear at the crack in the door, but there was nothing. Everyone was in bed, as she’d suspected, probably long asleep. She pictured Sawyer, on his back, his long body stretched out, hard, hot. Her heart gave an excited lurch.
He’d kissed her because she was smart.
And sweet and stubborn and…She’d wanted to cry when he’d given those casual compliments. She’d almost married a man who’d never even noticed those things about her, and if he had, he wouldn’t have found them attractive. For him, her appeal had been based on more logical assets, what she could bring him in marriage, her suitability as a partner, the image she’d project as his wife.
Occasionally he’d told her she was lovely, and he’d had no problem using her body. But nothing he’d ever done, not even full intimacy, had been as hot, as exciting, as Sawyer’s kiss. God, she’d been a fool to almost marry Alden.
Her father had once claimed she could have any husband she wanted based on her looks and his financial influence, neither of which she’d ever considered very important. Sawyer couldn’t be interested in her father’s influence, because he didn’t know about it and didn’t need it, in any case. And from what he’d said, he didn’t find her all that attractive. She smiled and touched her cheek. She was a wreck,