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But then it wasn’t just any kiss, was it?

It was the kiss. The kiss to end all kisses. The kiss she’d never forget for the rest of her life.

He moved gently to begin with. Everything felt light and sweet from the brush of his lips against hers to the way his hand rubbed up and down her thigh. Her clit tingled, her nipples aching. She’d never experienced arousal like this. Something all-consuming. Something that made her forget everything except his touch.

She groaned against his mouth and he pressed his tongue in to play with her. Their kiss grew wilder. Explosions of heat. Her heart raced and she moved restlessly on his lap. She wanted more. Needed more.

“Where do you want me to touch you? Tell Daddy, baby.”

6

Fuck it all to hell.

What the hell was that? Why did he just say that? He wasn’t a daddy. He didn’t want a baby girl. He’d just gotten carried away.

He stared down at her, his hands dropping away. He should say something. He just didn’t know what.

What had he been thinking? What was he doing kissing her? He was supposed to be here as a friend. As part of a debt owed.

He was not supposed to pull her into his arms and kiss her for fuck’s sake. It wasn’t fair on her. It was obvious how innocent she was. The way she’d kissed him back had very clearly demonstrated that. Not that the kiss hadn’t been hot. But she’d been hesitant, unsure.

Until the kiss had deepened and she’d stopped thinking. Then it had become far too hot for his peace of mind.

And then he’d fucked it all to hell.

Daddy? Really?

When he was younger, he’d always been attracted to women with attitudes, with confidence. He’d enjoyed the thrill of the chase.

And none of them would ever have wanted to live on a ranch in the middle of Montana. To yield to his excessive demands around their safety. To cede control beyond the bedroom.

Was that why none of them had lasted?

Fuck. Fuck.

Abby stared up, her lips swollen. Her face slightly flushed. Her eyes, which had been glazed with lust, were now darkening with worry.

“Is something wrong?” she asked.

“I can’t believe I just did that. It was a mistake.”

Her body grew tense and she scrambled her way off his lap. He let her go. She scooted her way onto the sofa, kicking him in the thigh as she moved.

“Oh crap. Sorry. Shit.” She stared at him in horror. “I didn’t mean to do that. Honestly. It wasn’t on purpose.”

“Abby, I know it wasn’t. Calm down, sw—” He cut himself off before he could call her sweetheart. He needed to back off. For both their sakes. Because the more he thought of that kiss...the more he wanted to kiss her some more. The more he wanted to take things further. To lay her down on the couch. To explore every inch of her.

She sat in the corner of the sofa and the way she crouched in on herself, as though to make herself smaller, punched him in the gut.

“Abby, I’m so sorry. That shouldn’t have happened. I apologize. That’s not what I...who I am. What I need.” He needed to get out of here. Before he was tempted to pull her back into his arms and comfort her. Which would no doubt lead somewhere else...

Fuck. What was wrong with him? This was Abby. Sweet, kind, innocent Abby. She wasn’t the sort of woman that could deal with him. She needed someone who would be gentle with her. Guide her. Nurture her.

Not someone who’d want to tie her to the bed, plug her ass before fucking her. Hard. Fast.

She stared at him incredulously. Those wide, hazel-colored eyes were filled with something he couldn’t quite decipher. It wasn’t anger, although she was entitled to feel that.

More like disillusionment.