Page 42 of The Maverick's Homecoming

“Finn…” She breathed his name against his mouth as he commandeered another long, endless kiss. Swept away on a wave of pleasure, she rocked into him, faster now, frantic.

He whispered things against her parted lips, lovely things—that she was beautiful, that there was no one like her, that he couldn’t get enough of her, that she took his breath away.

She believed those things as he said them. They thrilled her in that moment, though she was a grown woman now, one who knew not to put too much faith in the lavish things a man might say when he holds a woman naked in his arms.

But for now, she set her wariness aside. The things he said were lovely. They were absolutely perfect, exactly what she needed—to feel beautiful and adored, just for tonight. It felt decadent and delightfully self-indulgent, sharing dinner and pleasure with this beautiful man who had once been the boy that she loved.

Groaning her name against her throat, he surged tightly into her. She felt him go over, felt him pulsing within her, his big arms tight and hot around her.

All rational thought fled as her body took its cue from his. She felt only joy as her climax shimmered through her, hot and bright as a shooting star streaking through the clear night sky.

CHAPTER Six

Finn didn’t want Kenzie to go.

But he knew that shewouldgo. She had that look. Vulnerable…and a little bit rattled.

Tonight had been spectacular—for him, anyway.

But she’d told him more than once that she wasn’t looking for a real relationship. Being friends and temporary lovers was about as far as she would go.

He was holding her close, right there in his bed, feeling absurdly, deliriously happy, when she whispered, “I should get going.”

He kissed the tip of her pretty nose.Stay…The word was right there, pushing to get out.

But he didn’t say it. Her eyes had already answered that question and the answer was no.

So they got up. He pulled on his jeans as she collected her scattered clothes and put them on.

“Thank you,” she said softly when they stood together at the front door. “The dinner was amazing and—” her big eyes were locked with his “—so are you.”

Damn. He wanted…

A whole bunch of things she wasn’t going to give him. At least not right now.

And if he hoped to have a prayer for any kind of a chance with her, he was going to have to be careful not to crowd her. She had that look—hungry for more. And also absolutely unwilling to admit it.

If she wouldn’t stay tonight, would she say yes to getting together tomorrow?

Yeah, big guy. Good luck with that.

He tried, anyway. Because she needed to know what he wanted even if she wasn’t going to give it to him. “Come on back over for breakfast in the morning,” he said.

Her eyes lit up…and then she looked down. He waited. She seemed to be studying the toes of her boots. At last, she lifted her gaze to him again. “The thing is, I have a lot of stuff at home I should take care of.”

He only smiled and said mildly, “Okay, then. See you at practice Monday.”

“Absolutely.”

He wanted to kiss her. And she was staring up at him as though waiting for something. He hoped it was a kiss, so he went for it, settling both hands lightly on her shoulders and then bending close.

She neither turned away nor pulled back. He took that as permission. Slowly, carefully, he covered those soft lips with his. She sighed. He pulled her closer. As he deepened the kiss, all he wanted was never to let go.

But he did let go. And then he opened the door for her. Somewhere out in the dark, crickets chirped and a night bird let loose with a sweet trill of song. “Monday,” he said.

“See you then.”

He watched her walk down the front steps and along his front walk to her waiting SUV. Two minutes later, with a last wave out her open window, she drove away.