Читать книгу 12 Gifts for Christmas - Джулия Кеннер, Джулия Кеннер - Страница 29

DECLAN didn’t know why he was being such a hard-ass about denying the rumor. Maybe because he realized a defense was pointless, especially after all this time.

Or maybe it was because a denial would only stir up the gossips. They’d rehash his rep. Talk a lot of shit, dredge up the past and before he knew it, his choice as to whether or not to stay in town would be made for him.

Though deep down, he acknowledged that none of that was true. He’d never cared about what other people thought of him. What bothered him was that Mari was ashamed to have kissed him. Especially when he was desperately craving another taste of her delicious mouth.

“You’re bad,” she said. But she didn’t sound disgusted. More … intrigued. That curiosity was as sexy as her very kissable mouth. He wanted her like crazy.

Declan had learned a lot about self-control over the years. He understood now that he couldn’t always have what he wanted. But Mari made him think of tossing all that out the window and kissing her senseless right here on his aunt’s driveway. In fact, he was liking that idea more and more.

“If you’re gonna worry about gossip, we should really give people something to talk about.”

He gave her his wickedest grin. When she didn’t run, he reached out, slid both hands up her arms and pulled her close.

Not close enough, since she was wrapped in twenty layers of fabric, but still within kissing distance.

Her pretty blue eyes rounded so big, her lush black lashes almost hit her eyebrows as he lowered his mouth to hers.

Delicious.

Heat surged. Even though he wanted to devour her mouth, he kept the kiss whisper-soft, with barely a hint of pressure.

He expected her to push him away. He just hoped he’d get one good taste before she did.

The last thing he figured she’d do was kiss him back.

Her tongue met his, spearing fire through his body. Damn, he loved being wrong. Mari’s mouth was a sweetly addicting nectar and after just one taste, he was hooked.

Their lips slipped together like they were made for each other. A perfect fit, Declan thought as he glided his tongue along the delicate seam of her lips, imagining other seams, other lips, other hot kisses as she gasped and opened to him.

Their tongues tangled in a hot, frantic dance. Her fingers gripped his arms, nails digging into his biceps in a way that made him groan. He slipped his hands down to cup her butt, then, remembering they were in his aunt’s driveway, he quickly moved them back to her waist.

After a few more incredible seconds, he gave in to the soft pressure of her hands on his shoulders and pulled back to stare at Mari. Her eyes were a misty blue, fogged with desire and, he was pleased to see, sexual curiosity.

He was looking forward to answering any questions she might have.

“Was that an agreement?” she asked breathlessly. “Your way of saying you were sorry and you’ll help me out?”

The heat in his blood cooled instantly. “Is that why you kissed me? To convince me to do what you wanted?” he demanded.