Chapter Eight

They had a wonderful dinner and shared a Bananas Foster for dessert before strolling down the boardwalk, hand in hand. Justice loved her hand in his; it brought him a wonderful sense of completion.

“Justice! Hey, Justice!” a voice hollered.

Looking over his shoulder, he spotted Teak. Lifting his free hand in a wave, he said, “Hey, Teak. How’s it going?”

“Good. Good.” She stopped beside them.

Kassidy stiffened slightly at his side. He looked at Kassidy and hated the tenseness at the corner of her mouth.

“Wonderful. Teak, I’d like you to meet, Ms. Kassidy Barrow. Kassidy, this is Lieutenant Terra Acre, better known as Teak. She’s my first mate.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Barrow,” Teak said with a smile.

“And you.”

Justice watched as the women continued to talk. Kassidy relaxed and his heart caught each and every time she smiled, even though it wasn’t at him.

“Well,” Teak stated, “I don’t want to keep y’all. Kassidy, it was a pleasure meeting you. Justice, I’ll see you at work.”

With a wave Teak walked off.

“She’s nice,” Kassidy commented as they began walking again.

“Yeah,” he agreed. Teak was great but she wasn’t the woman he wanted to be thinking about right now.

They continued on for a while, more sightseeing and people watching than anything. He kept his hand securely around hers as they progressed along the boardwalk. Snatches of conversation and childish laughter blew by on the wind.

She tugged him toward the rail and leaned against it. Resting along it himself, he stared down into her eyes. The setting sun brought a golden hue to her smooth skin and made the green flecks in her gray eyes shine brighter. His heart caught and it took a few seconds before he remembered to breathe.

The breeze brought the intoxicating scent that he’d come to associate as Kassidy’s¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬amber with a hint of gentle vanilla. Big guileless eyes stared back at him and he knew he was lost.

“Kassidy,” he murmured, leaning close and covering her mouth with his. The kiss was tender and thorough. He explored the depths of her warmth using long strokes. Her taste embedded itself further and further into his soul.

She purred in the back of her throat and slid her tongue along his in response. Pulling her hand free from his, she wound her arms around his neck. The feel of her body pressed tight to his made the desire within him flare even more. He grew stiff within the confines of his pants and forced himself to end the kiss before it went any farther and he forgot they were in public.

Her eyes had darkened and the lashes had lowered, giving her a hooded, seductive appearance. Full plump lips were slightly parted. He bit back a groan when the tip of her tongue slipped out and skimmed the seam of her mouth. More than anything he could recall in his life he wanted the woman in his arms. And for all intents and purposes it seemed glaringly obvious she wanted him as well. He closed his eyes and struggled for control.

“I have to go, Justice.”

Her soft-spoken words splashed over him with the same effect as cold water. He stiffened and stared down into her eyes again.

“Something wrong?”

She shook her head. “No, not at all. I just have a very busy day tomorrow.”

He had no desire to let her go. However, staring into her eyes he could see signs of strain at the corners. Her mom’s been sick, man. She’s been working at the museum as well as the library. With a kind smile that hid his shame for the selfish thought he’d had, he brushed his lips lightly over hers.

“Of course. Let me get you home.”

They held hands back to his car although the walk was completed in silence. He held the door for her there, and again once they arrived back at her place. At the front door he stopped her from unlocking it and turned her to him. The outside light made her skin richer and reflected, much the same way the sun had, off the green flecks in her eyes.

“Thank you for tonight, Justice. It was just what I needed.” She glanced past his shoulder.

“My pleasure.” He wound a hand in her hair; the blended hues of her natural curls were soft against his skin. “I’m here if you need to talk, Kassidy.”

Her gaze came up to study his face as a slight lift of one corner of her mouth gave him a grateful smile. She swallowed a few times before she sighed heavily.

“Thank you.”

He plucked her keys from her hand and unlocked the door. With deliberate slowness, giving her time to pull away, he leaned close and pressed their lips together before he covered her mouth with his. He devoured its infinite softness. When Kassidy whimpered and sank into him, he ended the exchange. Helping her to steady herself, he skimmed her lips with the pad of his thumb.

“Good night, Kassidy. Sleep well.”

“Night,” she muttered before slipping inside her house.

He remained there until he heard her reengage the locks. Hands in pockets, he strolled back to his Vette, cast a final glance at the small house, then climbed in and headed home.