Last Virgin In California. Maureen Child

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      Chapter Five

      Reason pushed its way into his brain and instantly, Kevin released her and took a step back. His arms felt empty without her. He still had the taste of her in his mouth and he knew that had been a big mistake. And even knowing that, it was all he could do to keep from grabbing her again and having another taste.

      He slapped one hand across the back of his neck and rubbed hard enough to scrape skin off. It didn’t help.

      “Wow,” she said softly, her voice reaching out for him as surely as her scent did. “That was some kiss.”

      “Yeah,” he muttered thickly and was more than grateful for the sporadic moonlight. In the darkness she wasn’t likely to see exactly how much he’d enjoyed that kiss. But he could for damn sure feel it. And the discomfort was enough to make his tone a little harsher than he would have liked. “I apologize,” he said formally. “That was out of line and—Look Lilah, it’d probably be best for both of us if we just forget that ever happened.”

      Silence.

      Oh man, she was probably ready to cuss him out, or punch him or best yet, he thought grimly, report this to her father. Great. Just what he needed. What had he been thinking? His Commanding Officer’s daughter. An engaged woman.

      A nut.

      In an instant, he saw the end of his career, or being transferred to some far-flung, ice-covered base, or being busted down to Private. There was no telling what she’d do once the shock wore off.

      “I think my toes curled.”

      He blinked. “What?”

      “Seriously,” she said. “That was an amazing kiss, Gunnery Sergeant Rogan.”

      “Thanks.” What else could he say? Hell, he should have known she wouldn’t react as he’d expected her to. Any sane woman would be either furious or—well, just furious. But then, he told himself, Lilah Forrest didn’t even dress sane.

      “I mean to tell you,” she said, admiration clear in her voice, “you could give lessons.”

      He didn’t speak. Didn’t trust himself to.

      “Forget the Marines,” she added, “you could probably make a bundle being an escort.”

      “What?”

      “Just checking,” she said with a short laugh that sounded nearly as musical as the bells she wore on her wrist. “You were so quiet there for a minute, I thought maybe you were the first person to ever slip into a coma while standing up.”

      “You’re out of your mind, you know that?” Big surprise there, he thought.

      “Why?” she asked. “Because I didn’t kick you or run off to daddy to complain? Would you be happier if I was angry?”

      “Well,” he said, “yeah. At least that I’d understand.”

      “Sorry to disappoint you,” she said and started walking toward home again.

      He fell into step beside her.

      Even without the fog, the air was damp and carried the scent of the ocean. Shadowy clouds scuttled across a black sky, covering and then displaying the stars as if some giant hand were playing hide-and-seek with diamonds.

      “Not disappointed,” he said, weighing the words mentally before speaking them, “just…confused.”

      “I don’t know why,” she said, drawing the edges of her sweater closer around her. “You kissed me, I kissed you and it was terrific.”

      More than terrific, he thought, but didn’t say.