Deadly Ties by Jaycee Clark

Her hand was still in his. “No. I need to get some.”
    The darkness surrounded them, the only light from the entry window and what spilled through the door.
    He circled the back of her hand with his thumb and felt her shiver. What the hell.
    “Just as well,” he whispered, pulling her slowly to him. In the dim light her eyes looked darker. “You’re contrary and sometimes I don’t think you like me very much. For some masochistic reason, I like that about you. I like you, Taylor. Have I mentioned that?”

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    “Uh.… No.” Her voice, when she whispered reminded him of silk stockings being removed in the dark, sexy as hell, almost dangerous.
    “No? Well, that’s something I need to clear up then.” Just one taste. One simple taste.
    He leaned in and set his lips to hers. Her lips were warm and smooth beneath his. Soft as satin. Honeysuckle, there it was again.
    A simple taste would not suffice. She was shorter than he, considerably, but then most women were. She must have stood on tiptoe but he could feel all of her against him. She tightened her hold on his hand, and wound her other arm around his neck, a sigh from her mingled on the edge of his mouth, moist and heated.
    Gavin licked the corner of her mouth with his tongue even as his other arm wound around her back and he lost his hand in all that long silky hair.
    She sighed again and he angled his head to deepen the kiss. He had to taste more of her.
    Honey and salt, fire and ice. Taylor was a delicious dessert made with contrasting flavors. Their tongues danced and mingled as they both held the other on her darkened porch to the music of a practicing fiddle.
    Something … some unidentifiable feeling swirled in his gut. It was like nothing he’d ever experienced and nothing he wanted to forget.
    Finally, he pulled away, rested his forehead against hers. “I should go.”
    “Hmm.…”
    Her response had him smiling. She seemed so in control all the time that when she wasn’t, he found it cute and wonderful. “Are we still on for tomorrow?” he asked her.
    “Tomorrow?”
    This time his grin allowed a chuckle out. Definitely not in control now, was she.
    “Tomorrow afternoon. Ryan. You.” He glanced at her lips. “Me.”
    “Oh.” Her lips held that vowel out, and he wanted to kiss her again. “Yes. If you’re sure.”
    Her words whispered against his lips made him long for another taste.
    Just one.
    “I’m sure.” Then he dove again. There was nothing gentle about this kiss, both wanted it, both gave into it and both took from it. Her arms tightened around him as his did around her. He backed her up against the door facing, leaning into her warm, pliant body. He reacted instantly to their waists contacting, to the feel of her soft breasts crushed against his chest. He licked the roof of her mouth, felt her shiver and let his hands roam up and down her back, feather light. She arched, sighing into his mouth. He could feel the ridge of her backbone and as he dipped into the base of her spine, the thought of one day kissing her right there shot through his brain. When they pulled back both were panting.
    “God, woman.”
    Her laugh, husky with passion swirled between them.
    He’d wanted to explore those dimples, but that would have to wait, or neither of them would be leaving this porch. “Next time.”
    “Next time? What?” she asked him.
    “Dimples.” On a resigned sigh, he disentangled them. Her confused look was completely adorable. That pull of brows that left the faintest frown between them.
    “Good night, Gorgeous.” He tapped her chin with his finger before he turned and walked

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    down the steps. The promise of rain tinged the air.
    “Good night, Gavin.” At his car, he looked back, opening the driver’s door. He couldn’t see her, not really, just her outline against the light shining through the open door.
    “Taylor?”
    “Yeah?”
    “She’s not his mother, you are. One thing runs deeper than blood. Love. Those ties