Local Hero

thumb over her lips. Her eyes went to smoke. “When was the last time you let anyone do this?”
    His mouth covered hers quickly, with a force that came as a shock. She hadn’t been prepared for violence. His hands had been so gentle, his voice so soothing. She hadn’t expected this edgy passion. But God, how she’d wanted it. With the same reckless need, she threw her arms around his neck and answered demand for demand.
    “Too long,” Mitch managed breathlessly when he tore his mouth from hers. “Thank God.” Before she could utter more than a moan, he took her mouth again.
    He hadn’t been sure what he’d find in her—ice, anger, fear. The unrestrained heat came as much of a shock to his system as to hers. Her wide, generous mouth was warm and willing, with all traces of shyness swallowed by passion. She gave more than he would have asked for, more than he’d been prepared to take.
    His head spun, a fascinating and novel sensation he couldn’t fully appreciate as he struggled to touch and taste. He dragged his hands through her hair, scattering the two thin silver pins she’d used to pull it back from her face. He wanted it free and wild in his hands, just as he wanted her free and wild in his bed. His plans to go slowly, to test the waters, evaporated in an overwhelming desire to dive in headfirst. Thinking only of this, he slipped his hands under her sweater. The skin there was tender and warm. The silky little concoction she wore was cool and soft. He slid his hands around her waist and up to cup her breasts.
    She stiffened, then shuddered. She hadn’t known how much she’d wanted to be touched like this. Needed like this. His taste was so dark, so tempting. She’d forgotten what it was like to hunger for such things. It was madness, the sweet release of madness. She heard him murmur her name as he moved his mouth down her throat and back again.
    Madness. She understood it. She’d been there before, or thought she had. Though it seemed sweeter now, richer now, she knew she could never go there again.
    “Mitch, please.” It wasn’t easy to resist what he was offering. It surprised Hester how difficult it was to draw away, to put the boundaries back. “We can’t do this.”
    “We are,” he pointed out, and drew the flavor from her lips again. “And very well.”
    “
I
can’t.” With the small sliver of willpower she had left, she struggled away. “I’m sorry. I should never have let this happen.” Her cheeks were hot. Hester put her hands to them, then dragged them up through her hair.
    His knees were weak. That was something to think about. But for the moment he concentrated on her. “You’re taking a lot on yourself, Hester. It seems to be a habit of yours. I kissed you, and you just happened to kiss me back. Since we both enjoyed it, I don’t see where apologies are necessary on either side.”
    “I should have made myself clear.” She stepped back, hit the newspapers again, then skirted around them. “I do appreciate what you’re doing for Rad—”
    “Leave him out of this, for God’s sake.”
    “I can’t.” Her voice rose, surprising her again. She knew better than to lose control. “I don’t expect you to understand, but I can’t leave him out of it.” She took a deep breath, amazed that it did nothing to calm her pulse rate. “I’m not interested in casual sex. I have Rad to think about, and myself.”
    “Fair enough.” He wanted to sit down until he’d recovered, but figured the situation called for an eye-to-eye discussion. “I wasn’t feeling too casual about it myself.”
    That was what worried her. “Let’s just drop it.”
    Anger was an amazing stimulant. Mitch stepped forward and caught her chin in his hand. “Fat chance.”
    “I don’t want to argue with you. I just think that—” The knock came as a blessed reprieve. “That’s the boys.”
    “I know.” But he didn’t release her. “Whatever you’re interested in, have time for, room for, might just have to be adjusted.” He was angry, really angry, Mitch realized. It wasn’t like him to lose his temper so quickly. “Life’s full of adjustments, Hester.” Letting her go, he opened the door.
    “It was great.” Rosy-cheeked and bright-eyed, Radley tumbled in ahead of Josh and the dog. “We even got Taz to run once, for a minute.”
    “Amazing.” Mitch bent to unclip the leash. Grumbling with exhaustion, Taz walked to a spot by the window, then collapsed.
    “You guys must