Indelibly Intimate by Regina Cole Page A

increasing the pressure, moving his body closer to hers. When he looked up, she smiled. The sign was already straight but she stayed there anyway.
    “Thanks,” she said, shifting her weight back to the balls of her feet. He steadied her with one hand on her hip, the other around her knee.
    “What can I say? I’m a selfless and caring individual.” His grin spread at her genuine laughter.
    “I’m not going to be able to get down if you don’t let go.” She crossed her arms and mock-scowled at him. He didn’t tell her that from his vantage point the expression was wasted. He only had eyes for the breasts defined so perfectly by her crossed arms.
    “Is that a problem?” He let his palm trail down, following the curve of her ass.
    She squeaked and whacked at his hand. “Do you mind? This isn’t exactly private.”
    “I don’t see what the issue is,” he groused good-naturedly. With a regretful sigh, he lifted her by the legs, setting that pert bottom on his shoulder.
    She grabbed hold of his head. “What are you doing? Put me down, put me down!”
    “But you make such a great accessory,” he said, turning her this way and that as if modeling. Her laughs didn’t stop. The happy sounds wrapped all the way around him, giving his soul a lightness he hadn’t known was missing.
    “I’m not your freaking accessory, you jerk. I mean it. Put me down now.” She tried her best to smother her giggles but she couldn’t stop them completely. She kicked her heels against him.
    “Whoa there, easy. Fine,” he sighed and put her gently down in front of him. She loosed her grip but her hands ran down his neck to his shoulders as she faced him.
    “Thanks,” she said. God, that wicked twinkle. It made his whole body throb to be near her.
    “No problem.” He bent to her. He intended to keep it brief, only a brushing of the lips, but he didn’t miss her trembling in response. The fire he’d kept under careful control suddenly blazed up, heating his blood and stirring his lust.
    What the hell was she doing to him?
    The kiss deepened without his conscious effort, his tongue sliding into her willing mouth, plundering the planes of her tongue and soft lips. He drew her close, her pliant body melding effortlessly to his, as if she was wax and he was flame. Her ass was so soft as he cupped it, bringing her higher and tighter against him. His erection hardened at the press of her belly against him, at her willing response to his kisses. The memory of her silky skin was almost too damn much to take.
    He reluctantly lifted his head. Her eyes were hazy. He framed her hips as he stepped back.
    “Sorry,” he said, nearly losing the ability to speak when her tongue darted out to taste her damp lips. “I got a little carried away.”
    She nodded and drew back slightly, looking at the ground as she tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “It’s okay, really.”
    “Good,” he said, running a finger along her cheek. “Because I can pretty much guarantee that it’ll happen again, Sparky.”
    Uncertainty flitted across her face but then her lids fluttered closed. She lifted a hand to catch his against her cheek. She didn’t say a word.

Chapter Eight
     
    Quinn’s blood sang hotly through her veins even though Hammer’s kiss had been over for almost sixty seconds now. She stood silent, holding his large hand against her cheek. It felt good. Right, even. How the hell was this happening?
    Her brain had short-circuited. That was the only explanation for it. She must have an aneurism, or an early onset of Alzheimer’s. This was what had happened with Guy, right? She’d fallen way too hard, way too fast.
    You can’t know enough about a person after such a short time in their company, can you? But you were only a teenager when you met Guy and fell in love. You’re not a kid anymore, Quinn .
    Her beleaguered brain shut up again when Hammer’s breath brushed by her ear. “Come on. Want to get out of here? Go get some