Chapter 41

"Listen, you," I started, waving my hand for emphasis. And then my hand slipped into her hair, and I pulled her startled face to mine, and kissed her.

Her mouth moved against mine, some wisecrack no doubt, but I just kept kissing her, and then her lips were answering mine. Her hands came to rest on my chest as my tongue flickered against her upper lip pressed between mine.

Her lips parted slightly, but I pushed no further, just softly kissing the outline of her mouth. A hint of alcohol flavored her breath as it mingled with mine.

With a low moan, she pressed another kiss against mine and then pushed me away. I watched her and tried to ignore the thunder of my pulse, in my chest and my groin. She was breathing as hard as I was, her head bowed on her neck. Her hair left her face in shadow.

"I--" I started to explain myself, but she held out a hand to halt me. I subsided and waited as she drew one more deep breath and then looked up at me, he