Free Just a Little Bit Guilty by Deborah Smith

hands."
    She held them out. "On loan."
    He wound his fingers between hers and squeezed gently.
    "I just want to tell you that what you've done for those four 75
    Just a little Bit Guilty
    by Deborah Smith
    people downstairs is the best, the kindest thing I've ever seen in my life."
    "It's part of my job. I'm all about justice."
    "I don't think it's that simple."
    "It is, to me."
    "You've got a heart the size of a harvest moon," he told her gruffly. Her eyes met his and clung. "I feel so humble when I look at all the good you do. I watched you last week in court and I thought, 'She really cares about people.' I need for you to care about me . I need you. I don't mean to come on too strong; I'm not trying to control you. I'm just a ... a bull in a china shop when it comes to small talk. I can't do it. I just ... I just say what I think. It's a country-boy curse." She smiled tentatively. "I'm trying to get used to it."
    "I won't make another move without your absolute goahead. Nothing. Not even a wink. Not even a half-a-wink." He made a dramatic and comical show of almost-winking. Vivian gave a throaty laugh then slid close to him and put her arms around his neck. Jake suddenly found himself surrounded by the scent of her and then the taste of her as she pressed her mouth to his. Her hands slid down his chest, then around his back and down the flexed curve of his spine. Jake gasped into her mouth as her hands curved along the sides of his hips and the outsides of his thighs. Vivian made a ragged sound and quickly put her hands on his chest. She tipped her head back, her eyes half-closed and her face flushed. "If you push me too hard, I'll push back. Fair warning?"
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    Just a little Bit Guilty
    by Deborah Smith
    He looked at her breathlessly, wanting her so badly that his whole body ached. "Tell me what part you want pushed first."
    "Surprise me."
    His fingers trembled as he wound them into the scarf knotted at her throat. He pulled its bow undone. She kept her gaze on his eyes as his fingers slid down the center of her blouse, pressing lightly on the cool material until they indented it between her breasts.
    Her chest swelled invitingly against his fingers. A shudder ran through him, and he pulled his hand away from her. He touched her cheek and looked pensively down into her vulnerable eyes.
    Vivian pressed herself to him quickly and began undoing his shirt. Their legs tangled as she gave him a small push backward on the couch. Her hands slipped inside the worn material and caressed his chest with eager movements that tugged at the curly hair. Jake groaned and grabbed her wrists.
    "I don't want to do it this way," he said raggedly. Vivian stiffened at the rebuke in his voice as it seeped through her hazy thoughts. "I don't understand." She tried to pull away, but he only held her tighter.
    "Where are you going, girl?"Either I keep running away from you or I make you want to run from me. You're confusing me."
    "Did I say I want to run from you?" he demanded gently.
    "But you're drunk. I don't want you to wake up in the 77
    Just a little Bit Guilty
    by Deborah Smith
    morning looking at me like I'm a hangover you want to forget."
    She started to say something else, but her lips froze on the words. She swayed a little, blinking owlishly. "Are you for real?"
    He leaned his forehead against hers. "So real I could kick myself for playin' fair."
    "I'm not too drunk to make a decision about sex."
    "You had to get drunk to kiss me."
    "Not a bad way to jump-start things. I may be rusty, but I'm fast."
    "Viv, that's the point. Let's make this special. I've had enough hook-ups and disappointments and reckless failures. So have you. Let's take it slow."
    For an uncertain moment, he waited for her response.
    "If my Pop were still alive," she said finally, her voice warm, "I think he'd invite you over for dinner, and he'd make his fancy spaghetti sauce for you. With extra olive oil He never invited any of my boyfriends over for his