She stopped tasting the eggs, remembering how he’d changed the subject when she asked him why he switched majors in junior year. Did it have something to do with a college girlfriend? It was none of her business, but she wanted to know what had happened. She was probably just projecting her experience with Jason on Seth.

“Hey, where are you?” Seth asked softly.

Tara looked down at the plate to find it cleaned off. “I like to give delicious food my complete and undivided attention.”

“Hmm…” He didn’t buy it, but he didn’t push it either. “More coffee?”

“No, thanks. I’m good,” she said, shaking off the last vestiges of her mulling. “I’ll do the dishes.”

“The dishes can wait,” he said, gazing at her with sudden intensity. “Take your shirt off.”

“Oh.”

“Should I come do it for you?”

“Sure.” She seemed incapable of uttering more than single-word responses.

Seth came around to her side and lifted her up from her chair. He leaned down to kiss her neck and spread his hands under her shirt, caressing her back. When he tugged at her shirt, Tara lifted her arms to help him with the disrobing.

“I would love to have you in the kitchen, but I don’t think we should desecrate Landon and Aubrey’s sacred place.”

“The bed. Now.” Tara began pulling Seth by his hand, but he lifted her in his arms.

“Quicker this way.”

“Good idea.” She hummed happily and nibbled on his ear.

With a curse, he adjusted his hold on her and ran to his room. He plopped her down on the middle of the bed and immediately jumped on top of her. She giggled and squirmed under him. He easily caught her hands and held them over her head.

“Hello, Tara,” he said in a low, rumbling voice.

“Hi,” she replied in a breathless whisper, and gave a miniwave with one of her captive hands.

“I like having sex with you.” Growly. Sexy. Gah.

“I like it, too.” So much so that she was growing impatient with all the talking. “Kiss me already.”

“I really like you.” His eyes roamed her face with such tenderness, she nearly melted into goo. It frightened her how happy she felt about it.

“Thank you,” she said, but couldn’t admit to him that she really liked him, too.

It was too much … sharing. They weren’t supposed to get attached to each other. Making the best of the rest of their time together was one thing, but letting her emotions get sucked in too far was something else entirely. Yes, she was really into him, but that was for her to know and protect. Seth wasn’t Jason, but there was no reason to hand him a weapon he could wield against her some day.

“You’re welcome.” Seth smiled a bit wistfully and said, “Now I’m going to kiss you.”

Before she could tell him it was about time, he swooped down and captured her lips, and all she managed was a soft moan of approval.