She was the kind of woman who expected the best from people and would bet a large portion of his considerable bank account that she’d been disappointed more often than not.
“No tea.”
She nodded. “Not the tea type, huh? You’re too macho for that.”
“Macho?”
“Manly, virile, whatever.”
“Virile?”
“I’m just guessing on that one. It might not be true. You don’t seem to have a woman in your life.”
He felt an unusual need to growl at her. “You screw with my day, threaten my boss, run from me, blame me because you tripped and now you’re questioning my…my…”
“Manhood?” she offered helpfully. “Am I making you crazy? It happens. I try not to do that to people and I don’t always know when I’m doing it.”
“You’re doing it now.”
“Then I’ll stop. Would it help if I hopped back to my chair?”
“More than you know.”
“Okay.”
She turned, then swayed and grabbed on to the door frame to keep her balance. He swore and stepped over the cat to pick her up.
“It’s just the blood loss,” she said as she rested her head on his shoulder. “I’ll be fine.”
“Especially considering you haven’t lost any blood.”
“But I could have.”
He turned his head to look at her. It was only then that he realized how close their mouths were. His gaze locked on the curve of her lips and he had a pressing need to rest his mouth there. Just for a second. To know what she felt like and how she tasted.
He shouldn’t. He would only hurt her—it was as inevitable as the sunrise and yet he was tempted.
“I wouldn’t mind,” she whispered. “I know I’m not your type but I wouldn’t ever tell anyone.”
He didn’t know what she was talking about and he didn’t care. Because for once in his life, he was going to do the one thing he knew he shouldn’t.
He was going to kiss her.
Two
Kane claimed Willow with a kiss that took her breath away. Powerful, sensual, erotic. She couldn’t say what was different, how his mouth pressing against hers was unlike any other kiss, but it was.
His lips were firm and demanding, but with a gentleness that made her want to give him anything he wanted. She knew he could just claim her—he was more than capable of taking, but the fact that he didn’t seemed to make him even more powerful and appealing.
She clung to him, her arms around his neck. Her body straining to be closer. He touched his tongue to her lower lip and she parted for him instantly.
When he swept into her mouth, she felt heat pouring through her body. Need made her quiver and if she’d been standing, she would have collapsed.
His tongue explored her, teased her, excited her. He tasted of coffee and some exotic flavor that left her hungry for more. She kissed him back with an enthusiasm that probably should have embarrassed her, but as she figured this was a one time thing, why not go for it.
The kiss went on and on until various parts of her body began complaining that they, too, wanted some of that. Her breasts ached and between her legs she felt a distinct longing.
Finally he raised his head and looked at her. Passion darkened his eyes to the color of storm clouds, which was something she’d never been able to think before. The wanting tightened his features and made him look predatory.
“You want to have sex with me!” she announced, so pleased she nearly kissed him again.
He muttered something under his breath and carried her back to the chair on the living room.
“We’re not having sex,” he told her.
“Oh, I know. I don’t know you and that would make it tacky, but you were interested. Plus, you held me for a long time without breaking a sweat. So you must work out.”
He shook his head. “I’ve never understood why anyone would want to bang his head against a wall, but now I get it.”
She ignored that. “Kane?”
He glanced at her.
Her breath caught. It was still there—the need. Men had offered to take her to bed before, but they’d never needed her. Not sexually.
“Wow. I’m not imagining it. You are so incredibly sweet. Thank you.”
“I’m not sweet. I’m a cold son of a bitch.”
Oh, please. She smiled. “You’ve made my whole day. Guys don’t ever want me. Not really.”
He looked her up and down in a blatantly sexual way. She supposed that to be a fully realized woman, she should be insulted, but in truth, it was thrilling.
“Trust me—guys want you. You’re just not paying attention.”
“No, they don’t. I’m the warm, caring type who takes in strays. I give them a home—well, not literally. I mean they don’t come live with me. But I rescue them. You know, patch them up, give them support, care about them and then they leave. But they never…you know.”
“Wanted to sleep with you?” he asked bluntly.
She winced. “Not usually. Which is fine. Some are just friends, but others…” She shrugged. “It’s kind of the way my life goes.”
She could deal with that—it was her destiny to fix the guys and send them on their way. But sometimes she wished they would see her as something other than a good friend. There had been a couple she’d wanted to stick around.
“Just so we’re clear,” he said. “I don’t need rescuing.”
She wasn’t sure she believed him, but she was willing to let it go for now. Mostly because the wanting thing was so incredible.
“You’re so good-looking and powerful,” she said with a sigh. “Not my type at all, not that I’m complaining.”
“Good to know,” he said dryly.
“You could kiss me again. I wouldn’t mind.”
“While that’s a pretty irresistible invitation, I’ll find you something to eat instead.”
She was kind of hungry. “But you do still want me, right? That hasn’t faded.”
He looked into her eyes and she felt the pull of his need. Her insides got all hot and quivery.
“Wow,” she breathed as he turned away. “You’re good.”
“I live to serve.”
He crossed to the kitchen where she heard him opening cupboard doors. She glanced at the mother cat licking her babies.
“I think you’re going to be really happy here,” she whispered. “Kane is nice and gentle. He’ll be a good owner.”
Or he would be, once she convinced him that he wanted to keep the mother cat and her kittens. He was at heart, she believed, a decent man. With her need to rescue, she didn’t find decent very often.
There was a knock on the door.
“I’ll get that,” she said as she slid to the edge of the chair and prepared to stand on one leg.
“This is my place and I’ll get it,” he told her