Divine Evil

kitchen.
    “Very funny.” She plucked a loaf of Italian bread from a bag.
    “No, I don't think it was. I've been wished dead on the spot before, but not so…skillfully.”
    “Don't be stupid. He's just a boy.” She rummaged through a drawer for a knife.
    “That boy was about to take a chunk out of you when I walked in.”
    “He was not.” But she gave a quick, involuntary shudder. That was exactly how it had seemed to her, that hungry, even predatory look in his eyes. Imagination, she told herself. “He's just lonely. I don't know if he has any friends, anyone to talk to.”
    “Not lonely. A loner. He's got a reputation for keeping to himself and for letting loose with a pretty wild temper. He's had two citations this month for speeding. Bud's come across him more than once bouncing on some girl in the cab of that truck he drives.”
    “Really?” She turned, poker-faced. “I wonder why that description reminds me of someone I used to know.”
    He had to grin. “I don't recall ever getting ready to slide my tongue down an older woman's throat.”
    “Ah, graciously put, Rafferty.” Grinning, she sawed thick slices from the loaf. “You haven't lost your touch.”
    “Just watch your step with him, that's all.”
    “I'm using him as a model, not for Seduction 101.”
    “Good.” He walked over and, taking her by the shoulders, turned her to face him. “Because I'd just as soon I was the only one sliding my tongue down your throat.”
    “God, you're romantic.”
    “You want romance-put down the knife.” When she only laughed, he took it away himself and set it aside. Slowly, his eyes on hers, he combed his fingers through her hair. Her smile faded. “I want you. I figure you should know that straight off.”
    “I think I already worked that out for myself.” She tried to be casual but only succeeded in sounding breathless. “Listen, Cam, my track record's really lousy. I… ” Her voice trailed off when he lowered his head and rubbed his open mouth against her throat. Frissons of fire and ice raced up her spine. “I don't want to make another mistake.” She closed her eyes on a moan when he caught the lobe of her ear between his teeth. “I'm really bad at analyzing my feelings. My shrink says…oh, Jesus.” His thumbs were circling slowly, lightly over her nipples.
    “That's very profound,” Cam murmured, then began a lazy, tortuous trail along her jawline with his tongue and nibbling teeth.
    “No-he says that I use glibness and… oh, sarcasm to shield myself and only open up in my work. That's why I screwed up my marriage and the relationships that
    God, do you know what you're doing to my insides?”
    He knew what was happening to his while he cupped her small, firm breasts in his hands and let his mouth roam her face. “How long are you going to keep talking?”
    “I think I'm finished.” Her hands were on his hips, fingers dug in. “For God's sake, kiss me.”
    “I thought you'd never ask.”
    He closed his wandering mouth over hers. He'd expected the punch, craved it. He let his body absorb the shock before he pressed himself hard against her.
    Her lips parted hungrily, inviting him in so that she could scrape her teeth over his tongue, then soothe it with hers. His low groan of approval vibrated into her. He tasted dark, dangerous, and visions of wild, raging sex had her head spinning.
    It had been long, too long, she thought, since she had felt a man's hands on her, since she had felt this churning frenzy to mate. But this was more, too much more, and it frightened her. The need sped beyond the hot, frantic sex she knew they could share. She knew, if she let herself, she could be in love.
    “Cam-”
    “Not yet.” He caught her face in his hands, shaken by what she was doing to him. Body, mind, soul. He stared at her, searching for a reason, for an answer. Then with an oath, he crushed his mouth to hers again. When he realized he was crossing the line, he gentled his hold and rested his brow on hers.
    “I guess we should be glad this didn't happen ten years ago.”
    “I guess,” she said on a long breath. “Cam, I need to think about all of this.”
    He nodded and stepped back a pace. “I'm not going to tell you to take your time.”
    She passed a hand through her hair. “I wasn't kidding about mistakes. I've made too many of them.”
    “I imagine we both have.” He tucked her hair behind her ear. “And though I don't think this is one, you're making a mistake