“Yes,” he breathed. “I’m going to kiss you.”

Then his hands fisted in her shirt, and he dragged her toward him. Her body met his and pressed flush against him, tingling in every place they touched. He was hard and strong, his chest rigid as his arms locked around her. His mouth devoured hers. This wasn’t a gentle kiss, a thank-you kiss or an explorative kiss. This kiss was driven by need, and it stirred an equal response in Aria. Mouths pressed together, their tongues intertwined, dancing around each other. He took, and she gave, then turned the tide and took everything he could offer. She met him head-on. Who knew such fire hid behind his cool exterior? She moaned against his mouth.

Then he pulled away from her, and though she desperately wanted him to return, the distance between them grew. She remembered who she was. Why she couldn’t do this, no matter how tempting he was, or how great at kissing. Aria stumbled out of his arms and flew out the door. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw his hands clench into fists.

“I’m sorry,” he began, but she interrupted before he could continue.

“Don’t worry,” she said. “These things happen. It’s human nature. If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to go. I have somewhere to be. I, uh… Good luck with the cat.”

She bolted down the driveway, making an undignified exit. Coward, her heart screamed. Fool, her brain condemned.

Great. Now she was going crazy.

CHAPTER 9

A lemon cake later, Aria felt a bit better. As soon as she’d arrived home, she’d pulled out the flour, sugar and flavorings and got to work. Baking helped calm her mind, and now that she could think more clearly, she wanted to know, what had she been thinking?

She hadn’t been thinking; that much was indisputable. She’d turned into mush in his arms like a big blobby marshmallow. But, god, the man could kiss. As Sophie had pointed out, it had been a long time since she’d been with a man, but she knew abstinence hadn’t warped her senses that much. He was lick-your-lips, sex-on-a-stick hot, and she’d fallen under his spell. But it was over now, and even though she hadn’t had the strength to resist him the first time, it couldn’t happen again. She was a grown woman, capable of exercising self-control.

What was she going to do?

She supposed she could continue exactly as she had been, print another article or two and move on. Forget about the kiss. Put her attraction to the side. It was important not to act on it, especially after seeing his other side—the side that cared about making his sister happy and was insecure about his ability to do so, the side of him that was more appealing.