Page 40 of Fierce-Colson

As if she were testing not just him but herself in the process.

He should have stopped. Should have remembered everything stacked against them.

Instead, he kissed her again, deeper, claiming what he’d already lost control of and let himself want her for one more reckless, undeniable moment before he put a stop to it.

10

MOST IMPORTANT THING

Marly was going up in smoke.

She was pushing every line of reasoning she had and knew it.

And Colson, he was right there with her.

Riding that thin line and balancing it better.

Or so she thought when he finally pulled back and retreated two steps.

She was making out like a reckless woman in her kitchen.

One who wanted to take him to her room, strip him naked, and let him have his way with her.

She’d never, ever, done that with a man on the first date.

But was it really just a first date?

Yeah, it was. Logic had to override her hormones.

“Well now,” she said, stepping back. “That answered a lot of questions without words.”

“What?” he asked, his smile so big and arrogant that she was betting his dimple was sported under his facial hair. “That I’ve still got it?”

She leaned her elbow on the island, wiggled her finger for him to come toward her. He didn’t hesitate.

She puckered her lips and he landed a small kiss there.

Her fist wrapped around the material in his shirt and yanked him just a bit closer for another one, then let him go.

“Yes, you do. Now I need that wine more than anything.”

He laughed. “I could say the same about you,” he said.

He took the bottle out of her hand, she opened a drawer and handed him an opener, while she got herself a glass, then pulled out his beer and poured it for him.

Once they were sitting in her living room, both on the couch, but a lot of space between them, she asked, “So tell me what you want.”

She kicked her pumps off, tucked her legs under her hips and got comfortable so that she was facing him sitting in her little corner.

He turned and angled toward her.

“Well, guess I’ll just start with the facts.”

“That’s always a good spot.”

“I was engaged to Stephanie about eight years ago. We dated about two. I was on the force at that point, an officer. I worked a lot, took all the OT I could.”

“Because you had to or wanted to?”