Teasing Tucker

Teasing Tucker by

Jill Shalvis Chapter One Kelly Sanford walked into the party as if she belonged there. And she did. Just not quite in the same capacity as all the fancy-shmancy attorneys who were throwing the party. Not that she had a thing against attorneys in particular... Okay, she had a thing against attorneys in particular. It was apparently some kind of corporate celebration for one of their own, and this being South Village, California, no expense had been spared. Silver and gold streamers and balloons swept the high ceiling of Town Hall, a quartet of classical musicians were in the front corner providing soft music, and the food... That's where she came in. In her uniform of black trousers and a white fitted blouse, Kelly moved around, checking the trays of her fabulous — if she said so herself — desserts. As a pastry chef, one of the best in town, she prided herself on her work. Making a name for herself, building a reputation...this was what was important to her after a life perpetually on the wrong side of the tracks. The place was crawling with suits, most of them men, most of them young, handsome, rich and on the fast track. Just ask any of them. By nine o'clock, with the liquor flowing freely, Kelly had warded off more than a few advances, nothing she couldn't handle. It amused her to watch the goings-on, the gradual slipping of control and composure, and despite being out of her element, she smiled smugly to herself as she carried her final tray of mini triple fudge chocolate cream pies. "Oh, Kelly, perfect." Suzanne Carter smiled as Kelly moved onto the balcony. Suzanne was Kelly's boss, and owner of the catering company Earthly Delights. The tall, beautiful redhead stood in a group of at least ten people, each of them a blur to Kelly at the moment, as she inexplicably started to lose her grip on her very full tray. Biting her lip, she dropped her gaze to her trembling pies and willed them to balance. "I wanted to introduce you to a friend of mine," Suzanne said, and tugged Kelly closer, completely unaware of the balancing struggle Kelly was facing. "He's the honoree of the party tonight —"

"Suzanne don't —" Too late. Kelly lost her battle, and the tray toppled to the left, toward the person Suzanne was pointing to. Toward the one person in a group of overdressed suits who stuck out. In the whir of flying pies, Kelly had a moment to register his features. Tall. Dark, melting eyes. Long sun-kissed brown hair, wavy to his collar. He had a silver hoop in one ear and an easy smile that wavered as the mini pies flew from her tray toward him, changing his loose, almost lazy stance to a rigid, surprised one. Even in his fancy dark gray silk duds — about to be decorated with her pies — she couldn't miss that long, lean, tough build, or how comfortable he was in his own skin. Or had been. Before the pies hit him square in the chest. Suzanne's mouth fell open. Everyone gasped. And Kelly wished for a big hole to open up and swallow her. "I'm...so sorry." She untied her apron and hastily, awkwardly, used it to wipe at his shirt. Pieces of pie fell off him and hit the floor. Loudly. "Kelly." Suzanne spoke into the hushed silence. "This is Tucker Anderson. Tucker, my God, your suit —" He held up a hand, eyes glued to Kelly. "Don't give it another thought. It's fine." Suzanne looked at Kelly, eyes wide. "Tucker is celebrating a big win this week. Tucker, this is Kelly Sanford, my first employee. Besides being klutzy, she's the greatest pastry chef I've ever seen, even better than me." Tucker swiped a finger across his chest, scooping up some pie. He put his finger in his mouth and sucked off the chocolate. "Yep. Good. Great, actually." Suzanne glanced at Kelly, her eyes desperately demanding that Kelly somehow make amends. Normally Kelly would, quite easily, though with a smile that didn't quite meet her eyes. Keeping a slight distance was second nature, and had been with everyone she'd ever met except with one person. The one person who just happened to be standing right in front of her. They hadn't seen each other in five years, not since the night she'd offered him her body and all that went with that promise, and he'd turned her down flat. Their past went back a lot further than five years though, as he'd been her older brother's best friend. He'd bandaged her scraped knees in elementary school, had driven her to her first dance in middle school, made her smile through her struggles in high school. Always, he'd been there with his unconditional acceptance, his easy laughter. And she'd loved him with all her adolescent heart. He'd been her first crush, and given how her heart rate had taken off at the sight of him, that hadn't changed. But one thing had changed...her naïveté. She had him to thank for that as well, because for all he'd given her, he'd also hurt her in a way no one else ever had. It'd happened on the night of her high school graduation. High on success, on top of her world, she'd shown up at his college dorm. His roommate, her brother, had been out. With her heart in her throat,

she'd let her beautiful dress — the one she'd bought with seducing him in mind — slip to the floor. She'd wanted nothing more than his love, and his hands on her. She'd wanted him to be her first, her last.... Instead, he'd sent her home. Mortified. Horrified. Destroyed. Five years was a lifetime ago, and only a minute. Now he stood there looking as flummoxed as she, if the frozen smile on his face meant anything. Of course that might have been the chocolate dripping off of him. Not much rattled him, not the laid-back, easygoing king, and she had to admit to a slight surge of satisfaction. But that didn't solve the question of what to do now. Pride demanded that no matter how raw she felt, she pretend they'd never met, that they'd never meant anything to each other at all. But pride also demanded that she force him to acknowledge her presence, that he feel some of the shock flowing through her system as his own....

Chapter Two "Tucker," Kelly said in a voice that could melt the Arctic. It certainly melted Tucker. "Hello, Kelly." "You...know each other?" Suzanne divided a glance between her pastry chef and the man wearing the pastries. "Yes, we do." Kelly lifted her chin, a sure sign of false bravado, and for some reason Tucker melted even further. "We go way back." They certainly did, further than Tucker wanted to think about at the moment. This was supposed to be his night. His law firm had thrown him this party, he was still reeling from a fantastic win in court, and some hot blonde had slipped him her hotel key only ten minutes ago. And yet in spite of all that, he'd stood there, just one in the crowd, and had felt...lonely. But that'd been before he'd had mini triple fudge chocolate cream pies strewn across his chest by a blast from his past. A slim, petite, hauntingly beautiful blast with eyes that had first melted him when he'd been nine and she'd been five. He'd grown up quite a bit in the past eighteen years, and so had she. Holy smokes, so had she. "Small world." Suzanne smiled with relief. "So...everything is okay?" Tucker didn't know about that. Kelly's smile was still a little shaky at best. Once upon a time, at such an unsure look from those sea green eyes, he'd have touched her, hugged her, done whatever it took to make her feel better. No doubt she'd hit him if he tried that now. In fact, she was probably going to walk away. He deserved no less. But for the first time in far too long, standing there looking at one of the few people who'd ever really known him, he felt...alive.

"Again, I'm sorry about the mess," Kelly said in that slightly husky, unbearably sexy voice that brought him reeling back five years. Five years since he'd seen her. My God, she looked amazing. "But it's...nice to see you again," she added. The ever so polite words made him smile, his first genuine one of the night. "You always were a terrible liar," he said. Suzanne, and a few others still lingering around them, laughed. Not Kelly, though. "All right," she admitted. "It's a shock to see you. How's that for honesty?" "Pretty good." For just a beat he wished he could be honest, too. Tell her that his heart was threatening to burst right out of his ribs. That he'd like to go back five years and take back what he'd done that night. That he'd never meant to hurt her or chase her out of his life. Hell, she'd been the one bright spot in his sorry life and he'd tossed her aside, only to realize far too late what he'd done. What he'd lost. But to tell her so... No. Tucker didn't do honesty as it applied to his own emotions. Fact was, she'd terrified him back then, and apparently still did. "And, yeah, it's a shock." He took another swipe of his chest with his finger and had one more bite of her dessert before letting out a lazy grin. "But a damn tasty one." "So how long have you two known each other?" Suzanne wanted to know. Kelly surprised Tucker by answering first. "We go way back, but it's nothing." "Nothing?" Tucker smiled. "That nothing got me after-school detention for two weeks. I started us off by dipping her ponytail in paint during free art in elementary school," he told the group gathered around them. "And it was all downhill from there." Everyone laughed. Kelly smiled along with the rest of them, but her eyes did not. In them Tucker saw what he knew no one else could: discomfort, self-deprecation. And hurt. That last grabbed him by the throat. "Kelly —" "Well, memory lane is so much fun," she said. "But I have work." Once, she'd been the only human being to ever care about him unconditionally, giving him everything she had. When she'd needed him most, he hadn't returned the favor, which made him feel like the lowest form of life. Needing to somehow fix things, he took a step toward her, but she held up a hand. "Seriously. I've got to go." And with another of those stiff smiles he decided he hated, she tucked her now empty tray under her arm, nodded politely and walked away. Her fitted white blouse was pristine and tucked into her snug black trousers, which perfectly encased her mouthwatering legs and behind as she moved on. Not rushing, never rushing, but not looking back either. Just as on that long ago night, when he'd so carelessly, thoughtlessly, destroyed everything between them. Nope, she'd not looked back then, either. But unlike that night, he was going after her this time, only no less than three people started to talk to him at once, wanting to discuss work, basketball, life in general, whatever, but he couldn't tear his eyes from Kelly's small, petite body to save his life. "I'm sorry," he said right over them all, and took off after her.

"Kelly." She kept walking, ignoring him tagging after her, dripping chocolate everywhere. "Kelly." He caught her just inside the kitchen, reached for her arm, pulling her around to face him. "It really is good to see you," he said softly. "So good." "I have to work —" She was going to walk away. Again. And it could be another five years before he saw her, if not longer. "Wait. Let's go somewhere." "I'm on duty." "Afterward. We can go to a club, a restaurant, anywhere you want." "I'll be too tired." "Somewhere quiet then, where we can just talk. Catch up." "Why?" Why? Women didn't typically ask him why when he wanted to go out with them. "Um...because?" "You're an attorney," she said dryly. "That's the best argument you can come up with?" He didn't want to argue — he just wanted her to say yes. Hell, he could hardly explain to himself why this felt so important. "Let's just have some coffee. Talk." She stared at him. "Five years ago you weren't interested. What's changed?" "Five years ago I was an ass," he said bluntly. "Please, Kelly?"

Chapter Three "Fine." Kelly smiled grimly. "I'll have coffee with you. But I pick the place." "Deal." She knew Tucker wanted to talk. Just as she knew she didn't. Anything they had to say to each other would only bring back memories she didn't want to visit. Once upon a time she'd been stupid, she'd trusted him, and she wasn't going to be either again. But to not go at all...that might give him the wrong impression entirely...such as she still thought about him. She didn't. Much.

Not that she'd ever admit anyway. "Café Meridian will do," she said, naming a new place on Sixth that had live music. Live loud music. He could talk all he wanted, and she wouldn't be able to hear a word. Better yet, she could find a way to make him pay for what he'd done to her, as she'd decided the little chocolate incident wasn't quite revenge enough. "Eleven o'clock." She eyed his messy suit and managed to hide her smirk. "Oh, and you might want to change — you're a little...overdone."

*** He was waiting for her outside the café, wearing khaki cargo pants, a black soft-looking shirt and a smile that made her quiver. "You showed," she said, not knowing whether the spike in her pulse was disappointment or excitement, deathly afraid it was the latter. Revenge, she reminded herself. Get some. "Let's go get this over with." His soft laugh did something funny to her tummy. When he put his hand low on her spine to guide her inside, that quiver shifted outward, pooling in various erogenous zones. Oh, boy, she had a bad feeling about this. The place was dark, packed and extremely loud. Perfect. They were immediately swallowed by the crowd. Double perfect. Yep, she could handle this. He'd talk, she'd nod and pretend to listen, and then it'd be over and she'd go home secure in the knowledge he'd seen her as a mature, successful adult — not a naked vulnerable eighteen-year-old. Things couldn't be better. Then Tucker leaned in so that his chest and thighs and all the parts in between slid against her spine and rear end. Some of her resolve dissolved into Jell-O, just like her knees. His mouth brushed her ear. "I'm on to you," he said with a smile in his voice. "But I'm giving you fair warning — I don't run scared anymore." Run scared? What did that mean? Before she could retort — or finish melting — he grabbed her hand and pulled her along. They moved through the crowd, at times being jostled so that she was forced to move closer to him, even put a hand to his back, which was warm, sleek and hard. Once, he paused without warning, and she found herself plastered to all that tough muscle. He smelled like wood and citrus, and also like chocolate, which made her smile against her will. He shot her a quick grin over his shoulder. "Oh, you like my aftershave, do you? It's new. I think it's called Ode to Chocolate Pie." She laughed. Damn it. He'd always been able to make her laugh; back when she'd been dumped by a thoughtless boy in seventh grade, or when she'd failed her first driver's test. When... No. No prancing down memory lane. In fact — She switched their positions so she was in the lead. Oh yeah, that was better. And she'd just decided on her revenge. Death by sexual teasing. She'd torment him into a hard, aching, begging skeleton of a man. Then she'd walk away. She liked that thought. "Here," she said, locating them a corner table just off the dance floor. She sat so close to him on the bar stools that their legs slid together, and when he might have shifted away, she put a hand on his thigh,

holding him in place. He stared down at her fingers on his leg and swallowed hard. "Kelly —" "No." God, no. She didn't want to hear what he had to say. Not in that low, husky voice that had the uncanny ability to expose every hormone within her. "Dance with me, Tucker." She pulled him onto the dance floor and turned to face him. "I thought we were going to talk," he said. "I have some things —" Purposely she slid her body to his and he stopped talking to let out a rough groan, his mouth once again brushing her ear, and then, because clearly Fate has a wicked sense of humor, the band went for a slow number. As if he couldn't help himself, Tucker wrapped her in his arms. Revenge, she sang to herself like a mantra, fighting the sensual pull of his body. Revenge, revenge, revenge. But, oh God, he felt good. Five years ago he'd been just as tall, but his lanky body had filled out since, turning into a sinewy length that had hers humming with pleasure. The music drifted around them, the dim lights and muted voices only adding to the intimacy. They were surrounded, closed in, and yet it all faded away, leaving only the two of them. In his eyes swam so many, many things: desire, affection, regret. When he opened his mouth she put her fingers to it and shook her head. "Dance," she whispered. "Kelly —" "You said this could be whatever I wanted it to be. This is all I want it to be. A dance between two old friends." And a little revenge to go with it, thank you very much. "At least you're acknowledging we were friends. Kelly —" She glided her hands up his hard, broad chest and entwined her arms around his neck, ignoring the groan that ripped from deep in his throat. Letting the music take over, she set her head on his chest and closed her eyes. Hopefully he was more overcome than she was, because her strength was waning big time. The music was sad, melancholy, and perfectly suited her mood. He'd always been an amazing dancer, and that hadn't changed. She let him lead. When he swayed, she swayed. When he shifted closer, one big hand drifting down her spine then slowly back up again, creating a hunger inside her she could hardly stand, she slipped her fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck and fisted. Lifting her head, she looked at him. "Remember. This is just a dance." Beg me for more, she wished silently. Beg me and then it's done and I can walk away. "Right. Just a dance." His hands tightened on her. "And since you won't talk to me, let me just tell you, this is just a kiss." His mouth covered hers. It was over far before she was ready, and when he pulled back, their lips separated with an audible wet sound that made her thighs quiver. Yes, she thought weakly, he was right where she'd wanted him.

Chapter Four

A lot of things rushed through Tucker's body as Kelly slowly opened her slumberous, sexy eyes and stared at him. Desire, no doubt, but oddly enough, it was so much more. Warmth had spread through him the moment he'd seen her, when she'd plastered him with her chocolate pies, and ever since then he'd added affection and a general all-around good feeling to the mix. He'd missed her. Hard to believe, he, Tucker Anderson, hotshot attorney and all around independent, fun-seeking loner, missed something, anything, from his early days, but he'd missed her. Hell. "Kelly —" Before he could so much as blink, she'd closed those delicious, still-wet-from-his-mouth lips. "Big mistake," she whispered, and if he wasn't mistaken, she was also shaking, but then she'd whirled and walked away. Her hips swung gently as she made her way through the wild crowd. She'd changed out of her service outfit before she'd met him again, and now she wore an achingly feminine, long flowing sleeveless dress the color of a summer sky, her long hair flowing down the middle of her back in silky waves. Still confused about what had just happened, Tucker followed her and caught her arm on the sidewalk outside. South Village's night life carried on around them. The streets were filled with pedestrians moving in and out of the boutiques, galleries, restaurants. The air was warm, dry...perfect temperature for a night in a lover's arms. That he had no steady lover had never bothered him. It didn't take but a smile and a little charm to get one when he chose. But tonight he yearned for something different, something deeper, and it was because of Kelly, who reminded him of the boy he'd once been. The happy boy, the carefree boy. The boy who'd hurt her. With his hands on her arms, he tried that charming smile now. "Where are you running off to? You promised me a talk." She crossed her arms over her chest. "You got more than a talk." Her dress had a scooped neck, and the tops of her extremely mouthwatering breasts practically spilled right out. He tried not to notice, but he was just a man. With a look of exasperation, she dropped her arms and once again walked away. "Where are you going?" he called out. "Home." He caught up with her and tried another smile. "I'll take you." She eyed him, and he wondered what she thought when she looked at him like that, like she was just a little nervous to be with him even though she had her chin thrust so high in the air it was a miracle she didn't get a nosebleed. Christ, just looking at her was like ripping out his guts because he felt the same way, a little bit scared behind the bravado.

"I'm going to walk," she said very quietly. "Well, then, I'll walk with you." His long-legged stride was a perfect match for hers, though she pretended not to notice him as she took in the sights around them: the lights, the sounds, the music and food scents spilling from every open doorway. "So you've become a caterer," he said, desperate to get her to say something. It was that or beg for another kiss, and quite frankly, he wasn't ready for another kiss. Another connection like the one they'd just shared would bring it all back, and she, like no other, had the power to hurt him with those memories. "And you've become a lawyer." She shook her head then laughed, the sound going through him like music as they crossed the street. "I'm not surprised. You always could argue until my eyes crossed, and persuade anyone of anything. I'd say the sky was blue, and you'd say no, it was light blue, and then somehow get me to agree with you." "And how about you? You could make anything taste great." He grabbed her hand when they crossed the next street and held on even after they'd hit the sidewalk again. "Remember that time I showed up and you made a full meal out of practically nothing?" She dropped his hand. "That was because we had nothing. But you showed up hungry, and I was too embarrassed to say anything. My skill came from necessity, Tucker." He stared at her, remembering that night well. He'd gone over to her house to see her brother, but he'd been out and so had her parents. Starving, as he'd come straight from a basketball game, he'd let her feed him. "Why didn't you tell me?" "Because you came from a different world. And because..." She stopped in front of a small, older apartment building. The place was neat and colorful with wildflowers growing in the small yard. "This is where I live." "Wait." Again, he put his hand on her arm, slowly drawing her resisting body to within a breath of his. "Because we came from different worlds, and because...why?" "Is it that hard to figure out, Tucker?" She cocked her head and studied him. "After all those years of watching you grow up, I had grown up, too. And my silly crush had turned to something deeper, something I didn't really understand then. Not until —" "The night of your prom," he whispered. With a grimace, he pulled her even closer and ran his hands down her now chilled arms. "I told you I was an ass that night. But I didn't tell you why. You weren't the only one who'd noticed we'd both grown up. God, the way you looked at me, the way you made me feel...you scared me to death, Kelly." He danced his fingers up her arms to cup her face. "I didn't know how to deal with all I felt back then," he whispered. "But I know now. Give me another chance, Kel. Let me come up with you." She glanced upward at the building. "You should know, I invited you to coffee tonight just to torture you," she said very quietly, still staring at the building, not him. "I wanted to walk away from you, leaving you hot and bothered and begging." "I've got the hot and bothered part down," he said. "And I'm perfectly willing to beg."

Chapter Five Kelly laughed. She couldn't help it. "Yeah, now there's a sound that brings me back. You laughing." Tucker shot her his easy smile but he sounded a little...overwhelmed? That couldn't be right — nothing overwhelmed this man. "You used to make me laugh a lot." Kelly studied him by moonlight, all tall, leanly muscled and just too masculine for words. Definitely, she'd only imagined that flash of vulnerability. "I guess you still can." "Invite me up...." He stepped closer, stroking a strand of hair from her face. "And I'll make you laugh, make you sigh, whatever you wish. I just want to be with you." The hustling, bustling night life of South Village faded from her view. She couldn't see anything but his broad shoulders and his mesmerizing eyes, intent on hers. "Why?" "Because for so long you were such an important part of my life, the most important part, and seeing you tonight reminded me." "But for so long I haven't been in your life," she reminded them both. "It never mattered to you." "It mattered. I just didn't realize it until now — God, Kelly, haven't you ever regretted something? Regretted it so much you ran from it? And then when it faced you again, you couldn't remember why you ran?" She stared at him, then let out another low laugh. "I regretted that night in your dorm room. But I know exactly why I ran. And I never looked back." "Well, there's the difference between us. You're the brave one. But I've grown up a lot since then," he said. "And believe me, if you showed up at my house now, I'd never turn you away." "I am absolutely not going to repeat that night," she said firmly. "Not ever again." "Yeah." He closed the last little inch between them and lightly — so lightly she might have thought she'd imagined it if his breathing hadn't changed, roughened — he settled a hand at the small of her back. With a brain-cell-destroying stroke, he spread his fingers, as if to touch as much of her as possible. "But you did say you'd like to make me beg...." Yes. She wanted to make him beg. "It would make us even," he murmured softly with another slow stroke of his hand that melted her bones. "And more than even up the score, right?" "Yes." He was so potent and dangerous to her state of mind. Turning, she let herself in the door of the building, then glanced at him over her shoulder, managing what she hoped was a come-hither smile. "Coming?" She had no earthly idea how to pull this off. She heard his footsteps on the hard wooden floor behind her

as they passed the downstairs apartments and headed toward the stairs. She was incredibly aware of him right behind her, of his hand close to hers on the wood banister, of his feet in sync with hers on the stairs...and imagined his eyes on her body. Breathing unevenly, she led him to her apartment door and unlocked it. "Tucker —" "Can I come in?" He waited until she looked at him. "Please?" Let the begging begin.... But his eyes were dark and fathomless and utterly genuine. "Yes," she whispered. "Can I kiss you? Please?" He was tall and strong and his own man. He was incredibly confident as well as proud, and he was going to humble himself tonight, for her, by begging, just as she'd wanted. The rush of power was almost embarrassing, as was her body's response. Nipples tight, thighs clenched, she found a saucy smile. "I'll tell you when." Not yet. If he kissed her now, she'd cave like a cheap suitcase. The place was small. Kitchen the size of a postage stamp, opening into the living room that held her love seat, a bookshelf for all her favorite romance novels and cookbooks, and a large green plant she'd picked up at a swap meet, which had subsequently nearly taken over the room. Her bedroom door was opened to her unmade bed, and she winced. "It's small." "It's home," he said a little wistfully, reminding her of the large, cold mausoleum he'd grown up in. "And it's very you." Then, holding her gaze, he slowly reached up and started unbuttoning his black shirt. A large wedge of his chest came into view. "Wh-what are you doing?" "Leveling the playing field." He shrugged the shirt off his shoulders, letting it fall to the floor, revealing his broad, hard chest, arms and stomach. Somebody had been going to a gym, and it hadn't been her. She couldn't tear her eyes off him. "Remember what you did that night?" he asked, his fingers going to the button on his khaki cargo pants. "Y-yes," she said, wondering at her new stuttering problem, staring at him kicking off his shoes. "I dropped my dress to the floor and acted like an idiot." "No, we've already established I'm the idiot. Not you." He lowered his zipper, the sound of metal on metal loud in the room, where the only other sound was her uneven breathing. He shoved his pants off his hips and kicked them away. Leaving him starkly and beautifully and stunningly naked. "Oh my God, Tucker...what are you doing?" "Making us even," he whispered into the crackling air around them. "Now we can start over and do it right." He stepped closer to her. Naked. Oh, how gloriously, perfectly naked. She knew she should look away but she still couldn't tear her eyes off him. "How about now?" he asked softly. "Can I kiss you now?" "Yes —" Before she'd uttered the word, he'd covered her mouth with his, taken over her senses with his delicious taste, the feel of him against her, the sound of the raw groan torn from deep in his throat when her arms came up to encircle his neck.

"Kelly." He nibbled at her ear, making her knees wobble. "Are we even yet?" She pulled back and looked him over slowly, from head to shoulders to chest to belly — so perfectly flat she wanted to taste him there — to his long powerful legs and then between, where he was hard. For her. A little dizzy, she met his gaze. "What I felt for you back then really knocked me for a loop." "I know," he said with real regret, and cupped her face. Thumbs stroking her jaw, he grimaced. "But if it helps you to know, seeing you, being with you, standing here naked as a jaybird while you're overdressed...this moment is knocking me for a loop, too, and quite frankly, also kicking my butt." Kelly bit her lip to keep the half-hysterical laugh in. "Are we going to move on?" he asked softly. "Or are you going to throw me out into the night in this condition?" They both looked down at his most impressive erection.

Chapter Six Tucker hadn't been kidding when he'd said this moment was kicking his butt. He stood there bare-ass naked waiting for Kelly's answer — could he stay or did he have to go? And yet it wasn't just the breeze blowing his parts that made him vulnerable. He owed it to her to put it out there, his entire heart and soul, and he owed it to himself. That was the scary part, of course. Seeing her tonight had been like a kick in the gut, and he was just now realizing why. Not once in the past five years had he felt so...alive. And it was Kelly, all Kelly. He'd hurt her, and he'd paid for that in restlessness and loneliness...but until now, until tonight, he'd never really understood. She was a part of him, the best part, and he had this one chance to prove it to her. "Five years ago I blew it," he said softly. "Blew the best thing to ever happen to me." He drew in a breath. "But if you turn me away now —" She put her fingers over his mouth. "I'll be the one blowing it?" She bit her lower lip, hiding...a smile? "The words are painting me a picture, Tucker, and it's not quite the picture you intended." He stared at her, then slowly grinned in spite of himself. She removed her fingers from his lips and replaced them with her mouth, and he went straight from laughing to so hot and charged his skin felt too tight. Then she was backing away, mouth still fused with his. And because she kissed like heaven, he followed, reaching for her dancing body which was always just an inch out of reach, that achingly beautiful body in the long, flowing sundress he wanted to see on the floor. "This isn't a one-night thing," he warned, and she tripped over a throw rug.

"It's...not?" She blinked up at him, and he caught her, kissing her hard. They were both breathless when they pulled apart. It took Kelly a moment to absorb what he'd just said, and in spite of wanting to remain a little distant, a little protected, her heart melted. This wasn't a one night thing. Not ready to show him yet that it mattered, she moved away, walking further into the living room, but when she turned to see if he was following, she bumped right into him. She took advantage of the moment to run her hands over his broad chest. His broad, naked chest. "Tucker —" "I want to show you what you mean to me," he said, and gently took her hands in his, then pinned them behind her. "Tucker —" He didn't kiss her, just held her closer. Still holding her hands in one of his, he used the other to open the buttons on her dress, one by one, until the material slid down her arms and caught at her elbows, leaving her in nothing but white lace panties. Her breath caught. "I, um, can't wear a bra with this dress because —" The words backed up in her throat when he bent his head and drew a nipple into his mouth, making her cry out. "Love that sound," he murmured, and kissed his way to the other breast. "Tucker —" Again she was halted, not by a kiss this time, but when he hooked a finger into the small strip of lace at her hip. "I want you," he whispered. "More than anything. But I want you to feel it back." Oh, she was feeling it back. Ohmigod, was she feeling it back. "Kelly?" Finger still hooked in her panties, he stared down at her nipple while he slowly blew on her wet skin. "Yes or no?" Her thighs tightened. Her everything tightened. "H-here?" "Here," he said, and skimmed her panties down her legs. She wrapped her arms around his neck when he straightened and held on because her knees were knocking. "Say it," he said, and his fingers replaced the lace, cupping her, stroking, making her hum in a helpless sound of pleasure. "Yes or no?" "Yes." "Now, then," he said, and stripped the dress from her arms, helping her kick off the panties still around one ankle. She'd barely straightened when he skimmed his hands down her breasts, her belly, landing with unerring accuracy between her legs. With his fingers stroking her intimately, and her body halfway to orgasmic bliss, he looked around them, landing his gaze on the coffee table.

"No," she managed to laugh, not so far undone that she couldn't see what he was thinking. "One of the legs is broken. It won't hold." "The couch —" "Too short," she said, still laughing breathlessly. "The table, the kitchen table." She was there before she could draw another breath. He picked her up and set her on it, then put his hands to the insides of her thighs, urging her legs open wide for the first powerful thrust that set him deep inside her. "More?" he asked so politely, her eyes flew open. He towered over her, his hands on her hips, his face set tight in a mask of pleasure that looked as if it bordered on pain. "More," she said, her entire being melting, flowing, reforming to allow him to be a part of her. One of the very best parts. Far before he put his mouth back to hers and thrust even more deeply into her, she began to shudder, both lost and yet found in his arms. Devastating and yet utterly right. "Tucker —" "I know." He buried his face in the crook of her neck, gripping her tight as he followed her over the edge, coming hard, her name on his lips. For a long moment, neither of them moved. There was no sound except the pumping of the blood in her ears and the harsh breathing as each of them struggled to recover. But eventually she decided she had to move or lose her legs to lack of circulation. Tucker stopped her. "You terrify me, you know that?" She swallowed hard. Goodbye already. She hadn't expected vows of love, but — "Kelly..." He stared deep into her eyes, his own suspiciously misty. "I'm willing to live terrified, as long as you're in my life." She blinked, then was glad he was holding her down because otherwise her joy and hope might have levitated her right off the table. "Tucker?" "No more running." He kissed her. "Say it." "No more running," she whispered. "For either of us." His smile was beautiful and brilliant. "I'm going to hold you to that, you know. Forever, if you'll have me that long." That worked for her. Oh, yes, she thought, smiling slowly into his amazing eyes. This time that really worked for her.

The End