Vampire Mine - Kerrelyn Sparks [71]
“Exactly.” She tilted her head so he could more easily nuzzle her neck. “Did you mean what you said earlier about my breasts?”
“That I wanted to touch and kiss them?”
“Yes.”
“Aye, I do,” he whispered in her ear. “But we should be careful.” He planted kisses across her cheek.
With a moan, she leaned closer.
“We should practice . . . restraint.” He kissed the corner of her mouth.
“Yes.”
He paused, his mouth only a fraction away from hers. Her lips were open, full and moist. Her breath stirred gently against his lips.
Stop it, ye fool! Before it was too late, he turned his head and kissed the other corner of her mouth.
Someone cleared a throat across the room, and he jumped back. Bugger.
Vanda, Marta, and Brynley were back, and by the looks on their faces, they were enjoying the show.
Chapter Fifteen
Marielle gasped. Heat rushed to her face. She didn’t know which was worse—the way the women looked amused or the way Connor looked appalled. Mortified, even.
She rose to her feet. Connor did the same, standing stiffly a few feet away from her.
“Hi, guys,” Vanda greeted them, her eyes twinkling. “How’s the training going?”
“All right,” Marielle mumbled at the same time that Connor grumbled, “Good.”
“Looked real good to me,” Brynley said with a smirk.
Marta shook her head, smiling, as she deposited two tote bags on the kitchen counter. “We didn’t realize we were going to interrupt your . . . workout.”
“Well, it could have been worse.” Vanda’s mouth twitched. “They were practicing restraint, you know.”
Marielle winced. Just how long had the women watched?
Connor muttered something in Gaelic that sounded like a curse. “I would appreciate it if ye would use some restraint yerselves and no’ repeat what ye saw.”
“I didn’t see anything.” Vanda turned to Brynley. “Did you see anything?”
“Nope, but I have a strange craving for raw oysters.”
While the women laughed, Marielle stole a glance at Connor. Anger simmered in his smoky blue eyes when he met her gaze.
“I apologize for the . . . embarrassment.” His jaw shifted. “It willna happen again.”
A pang jabbed at her heart. Did he mean he would never kiss her again?
“I have a few errands to run.” He raised his voice. “I’ll return shortly before dawn.”
“Connor, you don’t have to . . .” Vanda paused when he teleported away. “Sheesh, we didn’t mean to chase him away.”
“Party pooper,” Brynley muttered.
Marielle frowned at the empty spot where Connor had stood. He hadn’t said good-bye.
“Are you all right?” Marta asked from the kitchen as she unloaded the tote bags.
Marielle nodded. “Yes.”
Vanda perched on the back of the couch. “I don’t mean to be nosy, but what the heck is going on? I thought you wanted to go back to heaven.”
“I do.” Marielle stuffed her hands into the pockets of her hooded jacket. “Connor’s helping me.”
“Is that what he calls it?” Vanda’s eyes narrowed. “He had better not be taking advantage of you.”
“He’s not,” Marielle protested. “I wanted to—” Her blush returned.
“Holy moley,” Brynley whispered. “Have you fallen for him?”
“I . . .” Marielle hesitated. “I don’t know. Maybe.”
“You don’t know?” Brynley planted her fists on her hips. “The guy is legally dead. And he wears a skirt!”
“I like his kilt,” Marielle said quietly. “And he’s not really dead.”
“He talks weird. And he’s got red hair!” Brynley wrinkled her nose in disgust. “You can’t possibly think he’s good-looking.”
Marielle stiffened. “Connor is very handsome. And I won’t have you insult him further.”
“Busted!” Brynley pointed a finger at her. “Don’t tell us you don’t know. You are seriously into him.”
Marielle swallowed hard.
“Oh, that was clever of you,” Marta said to Brynley. “You made her reveal her true feelings.”
Brynley shrugged. “I’ve been around the block a few times.”
Marielle fiddled with the zipper on her jacket, recalling how Connor had zipped it up earlier that night. “I believe your Three-Step Rule may also be accurate.”
Brynley chuckled. “I know it is.”
Vanda held up a hand. “I don’t think this is