Come On Closer by Kendra Leigh Castle Page B

used to thinking he was sexy. She was less used to finding him adorable.
    I’m in so. Much. Trouble.
And it was a bit too late to worry about it.
    â€œSomething. Oh. Oh yeah, God, I hope so, hang on.” He lifted himself off her and pulled his wallet out of his back pocket, squinting in the dark as he opened it.
    â€œIf you don’t, I think I might in the bathroom somewhere.” She had vague memories of picking up a box at some point in the last couple of years, shoving them in a cupboard, and then fantasizing about a tall, blond, and yummy stranger who would move into town and entice her to use up the entire box with him. Which explained why it was collecting dust somewhere. But preparation was good.
    This particular redheaded, yummy nonstranger was even better.
    â€œI do.” He sighed with relief, then made her laugh when he added, “Wishful thinking paid off for once.”
    He pulled out the little package, set it beside his wallet on her nightstand, and then settled back onto his knees, where he began unbuttoning his shirt. He paused, just once, when he caught her eye.
    â€œWe still good?”
    That he would ask was unexpectedly sweet. Larkin responded by reaching up and pulling the elastic andpins out of her hair so that it tumbled down around her shoulders. She put those beside his wallet, then pulled off her shirt.
    â€œWe’re good,” she informed him, and grinned when he popped the last two buttons trying to finish getting his own shirt off. It went on the floor, along with her shirt. And her sweats. And her socks, bra, and panties.
    There was a brief moment, when Shane looked up from fumbling with his belt and realized she’d stripped off everything, that Larkin felt uncomfortably exposed, uncertain. This was completely backward. She’d meant to get him here with cookies, have some kind of adult discussion about moving slowly to the next level and seeing how it went, and then send him along before the snow flew. Maybe with a kiss. Or several kisses. Instead, he would be getting to know her body first, and she his. That wasn’t supposed to work.
    Then again, she was no expert. This was, she supposed, as good a start as any. And if things went downhill, well . . . at least she wouldn’t wonder what he felt like. Tasted like. So far, the reality was much better than the fantasy.
    Shane’s gaze skimmed down her naked form. “Holy shit.”
    Her nerves evaporated instantly. He might look like an Irish Adonis, but he was definitely still Shane.
    â€œThanks, I think.”
    She thought he might rip his pants in half trying to get them off. He couldn’t seem to stop looking at her. “You’re welcome. You should be naked all the time.”
    â€œThat would make work interesting.”
    He huffed out a laugh and finally managed to wrestle his crumpled khakis onto the ground. It wasLarkin’s turn to stare while he stripped off his boxer briefs, revealing a physique that was every bit as toned as she’d imagined. His shoulders, his chest, his stomach, all looked rock hard. He might drive a desk for a living, but he sure didn’t look like it. The man was big . . . everywhere.
    â€œOh,” she said, eyes widening. When she realized she’d said it out loud she felt a little ridiculous, but Shane just smiled in a way that clearly meant he knew. Larkin made a mental note to remember the man did have a healthy ego. She didn’t need to be stroking it. The rest of him, however, was fair game.
    She reached over, grabbed the little wrapper from the nightstand, and ripped it open. Shane’s smile faded as he watched her, the heat from his gaze warming her bare skin. She fought off a shiver, unsure whether it was from cold or nerves, and tried her mantra one more time:
It’s only Shane.
    The thrill she felt as she thought it rendered it completely ineffective. Fortunately, Larkin couldn’t bring herself to