dumbstruck.
He circled the car and opened her door, waiting chivalrously as she climbed out. They walked up the stairs to Gabe’s apartment in silence, but Connor could sense Maddie’s tension, could hear her knuckles crackling as she clenched and unclenched her fist.
He let them into the flat.
“I know the answer to that one,” Maddie said as Connor put his keys down.
Connor’s heart rate slowed.
Maddie ran her tongue over her lower lip. “The…the woman goes to bed.” She nodded, as though to emphasize her answer. “With the man’s best friend. Just like she did last night and the night before that.” She gave him a tight smile. “Goodnight, Connor, and thank you for the lift.”
Maddie turned towards Gabe’s bedroom.
Before Connor had time to register the crushing disappointment wrought by her departure, she swung back round and their eyes locked. Gone was the contained woman who’d answered with such certainty. In her place stood a vixen with fire in her eyes and lust in her gaze.
His heart slammed into his ribs.
“Fuck you, Connor.” Her whisper was harsh. She took three paces forward and poked her finger into his chest. “Fuck you for putting me in this untenable situation.” Without giving him a chance to defend himself, she raised her head in defiance, swore again and pressed her lips to his.
It was over too soon. She’d messed with his brain and sent a hurricane hurtling through his stomach and it was over. He hadn’t even had a chance to appreciate her actions before she pulled away.
“ No! ” She couldn’t leave. Not now, not like this. He grabbed her arm, halting her retreat. He looked into her eyes, acknowledged the hunger and the confusion and the awkwardness he saw there, and then he kissed her.
Connor had experienced his share of first kisses. Some were nice, some were hugely erotic, some needed practice and one had just been bloody awful. Indescribably bad. Kissing Madeline Jones was like nothing he had ever encountered before.
Never, ever had a kiss stopped his heart beating before kicking it into overdrive. His pulse drummed to an erratic, irregular rhythm, pounding so hard it sent blood roaring through his ears, drowning out sounds.
Her lips parted to his seeking tongue, offering him entry into the warm, wet cavern of her mouth. He tasted wine on her breath, and honey, and a bewitching mix of woman and desire. Lord, a man could become inebriated on her taste alone.
Time lost meaning as her tongue twined with his, as she wrapped herself around him, pulled his chest to her breasts, brought her hips to his groin. Space no longer existed, it was just him and her. Together. He felt himself slipping, dropping and falling into Maddie. Whatever she ultimately did or did not agree to, Connor knew it would never be enough. One kiss was all he needed to know that with Maddie he wanted everything.
And then she groaned, twisted and pulled away. She stared at him in horror for perhaps five seconds, pressing her fingers to her puffy lips. Then she looked at her hand as if not comprehending what it was, before wheeling around and racing down the hall.
When there was nothing left but the soft echo of her footsteps ricocheting through his head, Connor found his voice again. “I’m coming after you, Madeline Jones,” he promised her absent form. “Sooner than you think.”
Chapter Three
Guilt pounded through her chest as she raced down the passage. Oh, sweet heavens, she’d kissed him. Kissed her boyfriend’s best friend, and more than that, she’d liked it.
Hell, who was she kidding? She hadn’t just liked it, she’d lost herself to the exquisite sensation Connor’s mouth brought to life in her.
Shaky knees and breathlessness made her getaway virtually impossible. Each step was a battle against logic. Her head told her escape was essential, her body told her to turn back— now! What really rocked her soul though, was the fact that when Connor kissed her, really kissed