New and…Improved? & Andrew in Excess Read online

  She’d purchased a mountain bike, and it sat in her living room, shiny and inviting.

  Another knock came, far less tentative than the first one.

  With all her frustration, Becca yanked open the door, but everything she’d planned to say to her sister died on her tongue.

  Kent stood there, one arm braced on the jamb, the other low on his hip. He wore all black: black long-sleeved shirt, black jeans, black boots. His dark hair was ruffled, as if it had been shoved back from his face by agitated fingers. In the dim light of the early evening, even his blue eyes looked black.

  He was bad attitude personified.

  Automatically, her heart responded, begged her to reach out to him, but her brain intercepted with good sense just in the nick of time.

  Silent, he straightened and held out the hand that had been braced against her door. Wildflowers.

  He’d brought her wildflowers.

  Disarmed by the gesture, Becca took them, automatically lifting them to her nose to inhale their beautiful, exotic scent.

  He hadn’t smiled, not once, but his gaze was soaking in the sight of her in a way that made her anger turn. Instead she became hot and trembly. Confused.

  “Missed you at work,” he said.

  “I’m sorry.”

  He waited, but when she just looked at him, he said, “Are you going to invite me in?”

  His expression was nothing short of fierce. His body was so tense she could see each and every muscle delineated beneath his shirt and jeans. Not for the first time she wondered, a bit wildly, how a desk-bound chemist managed to look so mouth-wateringly magnificent.

  “Yes or no, Becca.”

  Never had she sensed such a temper in him, and even though he held it perfectly in check, it gave her pause. He hadn’t made one move toward her, but she backed up a step just the same. “I don’t think coming in would be a good idea-” She began, but squeaked in surprise and nearly swallowed her words when he simply picked her up and set her aside, giving him room to walk past her.

  “Well, gee,” she said dryly, slamming the door. “Come on in-” The sarcastic words backed up in her throat when he put his big, warm hands on her arms and set her against the closed front door.

  “You know you’re driving me crazy, right?” he asked roughly.

  “Kent-”

  That was the last word she managed to get out before his mouth came down on hers.

  10

  T HE KISS WAS as combustive as ever. More so.

  Kent’s mouth moved over Becca’s, relentless, urgent. Anxious. He didn’t realize how tense he was, how desperately he needed a sign from her, until he felt her fingers dig into his shoulders, binding him to her. Murmuring his encouragement, he pushed closer still.

  In answer, she trembled, a shiver he hoped was anticipation because this, this was what he’d needed all day. Hell, it was what he’d needed for the past few weeks. Her in his arms, arching her body to his, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, whimpering her need and desire in arousing little whispers that threatened to undo him right then and there. Needing more, he dragged his mouth over her jaw to gently nip at her ear.

  She moaned his name.

  “Mmm, love that sound.” He nipped at her again just to hear it. “Love my name on your lips, in that voice that says I’m driving you half-wild.”

  “More than half,” she assured him shakily. “Why are you here?”

  “I missed you.”

  “Really?”

  “Very much.” Her body was warm and round beneath his hands. “You’re so lovely, Becca.”

  “It’s the makeover.”

  He opened his mouth to deny that, but she cupped his face, brought his lips back to hers. Incredible need twisted, knotting him up. When she writhed against him, the knots tightened. “Becca…about earlier. About us-”

  “No,” she said quickly, breathlessly. “It’s okay.”

  He slid a finger over her cheek. “But I wanted to explain-”

  “Kiss me.” Her fingers against his mouth stopped anything else he might have said.

  Kissing each finger, he brought his hand up to hold hers. “So you’re not upset anymore.”

  “You talk too much, Kent.”

  He had to smile at her irritation. “But I hurt you. I wanted to tell you how sorry I am.”

  “I know.” She returned the smile, and the mesmerizing heat remained in her eyes, invitingly.

  Go for it, a little voice said. She’s hot, you’re hot, go for it.

  But they had to talk first, before she got the wrong idea. He wouldn’t hurt her again. “Becca-”

  “Later.” She tugged his head down to hers. Her voice was a breathy whisper. “Whatever it is. Much later.” And she took over.

  Oh man, Kent thought weakly, how she took over.

  Sinking her fingers into his hair, she angled his head for her kiss, arching her body into his so that he could feel every inch of her.

  A stab of pure heat tightened his belly, and logic warred with heat-he had to get enough air to his brain, to make sure she understood he wasn’t just using her, that he truly felt something for her, something deep and scary and almost flu-like-but then she nibbled at him. First one corner of his mouth, then the other, and lust began to win.

  With everything he had, Kent willed his hands to remain at her waist, but they weren’t listening. Every part of his body responded to the heavy-lidded sensual gaze in her eyes, some parts more than others.

  He had her sandwiched between his hard body and the even harder wood. But this was Becca! She deserved better, deserved more than what he could give her shoved up against the door. “Becca-”

  She went up on tiptoe to breathe in his ear, and the sensation that caused made him smack his head hard on the wood. “Ouch!” Pain and desire exploded in his head and all thoughts vanished.

  “Stay with me.” She pulled him back to her. “I want to be out of control. I want to be wild. Hot.” She clutched him, rubbing her body to his in an eager hug that nearly undid him. “Please, Kent. I want to let loose, I want my feet to leave the earth. I want to see stars. I want to explode, for once in my life! Is that so much to ask?” She blinked at him, frustration swimming in her gaze.

  “No,” he said softly. “It’s not too much to ask.”

  “Then help me.”

  Oh yeah, he could help her. As if he could refuse her anything, especially this. “Come here then,” he said hoarsely, dragging her close for a slow, wet, deep kiss that left them both breathless, and painfully ready. She gripped him trustingly and a heavy ache settled in his heart. When he scooped her up in his arms, she laid her head against his chest and the ache deepened.

  She gave him a sexy, wicked smile and delicately bit his lower lip. Tempted to devour her right there, he kissed her again. Don’t take her against the door, he reminded himself. Think. As if he could. “Your bed,” he rasped out.

  “Yes.” She ran her fingers over his chest, and he stumbled in his haste, nearly killing both of them.

  Her breathless laughter goaded him, and he licked his suddenly dry lips. Staring at the motion, she slid her fingers into his hair, looked him in the eye and asked with a heart-stopping mix of anticipation and awe, “Are you going to…” She blushed furiously.

  “What?”

  “Are you going to…use your tongue? You know, on my body?” Her teeth dragged over her lower lip. “I’ve always wanted to know what that felt like,” she admitted.

  They were only in the hallway, but he stopped to press her against the wall, his body poised and dying for her. Need pulsed inside him, biting, sharp need. With his arms planted on either side of her head, he cupped her face and tilted it up. Her lips were still wet from his mouth and he traced her lips lightly with his thumb. “I’m most definitely going to use my tongue,” he said. “On every single inch of you.”

  “Oh my.” She sounded a bit pressed for air. “Kent?”

  He was walking again, and staring down at