Madly and Wolfhardt (32 page)

When finally I found my tongue, I asked, “Then why are you here?”

To this, he smiled.  It was a wry, self-deprecating twist of the lips. “Because I just can’t seem to stay away, no matter how hard I try.”

Though it was hardly a compliment, pleasure blossomed in my belly anyway.  He couldn’t stay away and I knew how that felt.

“What if I don’t want you to stay away?” 

I knew I was playing with fire, but I couldn’t help it.  I could only pray that the end result wouldn’t be a heart burned up beyond all recognition.

“You’d be a fool.”

“Brains are overrated,” I quipped.

For the first time, he really smiled, a spread of the lips that revealed straight white teeth and caused his eyes sparkle.  It was a gesture that made my legs feel like melted butter. 

“You should at least think about it,” he said, holding my chin still between his thumb and forefinger.  “The only problem is, you might decide I’m right.”  His smile dissolved into another frown, his eyes darting between my lips and my eyes.  “And just in case you do, just in case you want me to stay away, there’s one thing I need to do before I go.”

With a tug on my chin to part my lips, Bo bent his head and kissed me. 

It was over almost as quickly as it had begun, but somehow it still managed to turn my stomach inside out.  Even after he’d lifted his head, I could feel the imprint of his mouth.  It was etched onto my mind and burned onto my lips.

I opened my eyes in time to see his tongue sneak out, as if he was savoring me. 

“Mmm.  You taste like candy, like strawberries and sugar.”

“It’s my lip gloss,” I said automatically.

He grinned again, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.  They were steamy and intense.  “No, it’s not.  Trust me.”

He bent his head to mine again and dragged his lips from the corner of my mouth, across my cheek to my ear.

“Goodnight, Ridley.”

Mesmerized, I stood absolutely still and watched him go.