Restoration by Kim Loraine Page B

peppermint, an unusual combination. He growled low in his throat and pushed his hips against her, his arousal plainly obvious.
    “I need to get you home. With me. Now,” he said against her lips.
    She nodded as he placed her feet on the ground. She was so aroused she could barely walk from the daze. What was she going to tell Valerie? Her worry abated as soon as she stepped back into the bar. Her friend was surrounded by the bachelor party and had apparently become part of the bachelorette group. Grace caught her eye and waved as she grabbed her coat and purse off the chair at their table. Valerie gave her a knowing look and waved back.
    Her heart pounded in her chest as they walked the four blocks from the pub to Drew’s house. They were silent the whole way, his hand encircling hers. She was comforted by the small circular motion he was making with his thumb on her palm.
    As they started up the steps to the front door, he turned and looked her in the eye.
    “It’s not much, but I like it here.” His gaze fell to his shoes.
    She reached up and took his face in her hands. “Come on,” she whispered as she pulled him down for a kiss. His lips were warm and his breath came in a sharp gasp when she reached into his front pockets with both hands to retrieve his keys.
    The house was tidy, small, and cozy. Drew led her to his bedroom, his hand slightly shaking as he opened the door. She looked around and immediately noticed similarities to John’s apartment back home. Neutral tones, minimalistic, no clutter. She pushed thoughts of John to the back of her mind and turned her eyes from the room to the man in it. He was biting his lower lip and staring at her, unsure.
    She closed the distance between them and lifted her shirt over her head. He ran his fingertips along her collarbones, bringing the straps of her bra with them as they grazed her arms. He lowered his head and kissed along her jaw and down her neck while his fingers found the front clasp of her bra, this time with no trouble. Breasts free, his hands cupped her and she sighed.
    She leaned into him, reaching around to pull his shirt up and off. Her hands roamed up and down his back and shoulders, feeling the muscles move as he continued to undress her.
    He fell to his knees and slowly kissed his way from her sternum to her belly button. His hair tickled the sensitive skin at her ribs, causing a soft giggle to escape.
    “Ticklish?”
    “Very.”
    “I’ll keep that in mind.”
    He traced her ribs with his fingers. When he reached her waistband, he stopped kissing her and took time to unbutton and slowly remove her pants.
    She said a silent thank you , realizing she’d chosen her lacy black panties.
    Drew looked up at her from his position at her feet and smiled, a wicked and dangerous grin. His hands ran up the backs of her legs and up over her hips as he pulled her closer to him. His lips traced the indentation of her navel and he moved across her belly to nip at one hip. Hitching his thumbs inside the band of her panties, he slowly guided them off her hips and down to the floor.
    “Lay down,” he murmured against her skin, lightly pushing her back so her knees hit the bed.
    She threaded her fingers in his soft hair and pulled slightly to get his attention. His soulful eyes found hers as she descended onto the bed. He followed, crawling across her, never breaking the connection.
    She looked down his body and pouted. “Why do you still have so many clothes on?”
    Drew cocked one eyebrow and grinned. “You’ve been ignoring your duties, Miss McConnell.”
    “I can fix that.”
    “Let’s see then.”
    She reached down to the waistband of his jeans, popped the top button, and lowered the zipper. She slid her hand down the front of his pants to discover the rigid erection hidden beneath. He hissed in a breath and rested his forehead against hers as she squeezed and stroked his arousal. Entranced, she watched his face; his eyes were closed and with every