Katherine sucked in a deep breath.
He studied a batter's stance. "Your legs look sexier in shorts. Long and smooth and tan. Warm, creamy, silk, inviting..... And from where I sit, I can just see down...."
Katherine's hands flew to her chest and held the gaping knit top to her breasts.
He smiled.
"Someday, Kitty Kat," he said. "Someday"
"There won't be a someday, Jensen," she snapped. "Not anymore."
"Oh Yes there will be" he stated quietly. His confidence annoyed her. "And we are going to put the past where it belongs," he added.
Katherine stared at him. But the words would not come. The rugged face and intense eyes obliterated everything right out of her mind.
Jensen curved his fingers about her upper arm just enough to touch her breasts.
"You are fighting yourself, Kat". His smoldering gaze slid mockingly over her rigid body.
"That's right, Kitty. You are going to have to admit what you feel in my arms. It's going to get even better. I'm not letting you go this time. I was stupid enough to let that happen five years ago. But it's not going to happen again. This time we will not be flirting on the edge of passion, Kat, but plunging hard into its fiery depths.
"We are done, Jensen," Katherine said. "It's a good thing we stopped that day. Thanks to you. It reminded me that having anything to do with you in that way is a bad idea. I'm not going to let you hurt me again".
She wrapped her shaking fingers tightly around the glass.
"Hey, Jensen... Did you see my curveball?" Tim asked, flinging himself down next to Katherine.
"I sure did. You have got a good pitching arm. But you have to learn how to snap your wrist. Your turn up to bat. Your coach is motioning for you"
"Mom, are you watching me?" Tim asked.
"Yeah you are going great honey" Katherine replied. "Keep it up".
"Great" Tim raced for the plate and Jensen's hand looped around Katherine's waist. His thumb stroked slowly over the delicate inner skin, his expression grim.
Katherine didn't bother to fight him. She just didn't have the strength.
——————————————
"Come over to my house to celebrate Tim's win, Kat," Jensen said after the game. His rich baritone sounded ragged, uncertain. He said it as though no one existed except the both of them.
Katherine was silent.
Claire's sharp elbow jabbed Katherine's ribs. "Say something dummy," she whispered, smiling.
But Katherine's tongue wouldn't move. The warmth of Jensen's eyes rocked the crumbling bricks of her resistance to him.
"Hmmmm" Claire drawled. "Tim, ask your mom if you can stay at my house tonight. You can borrow pajamas from one of my boys. You guys can camp in the backyard tent."
"Yes yes. Oh Mom, can I?" Tim asked. "Pleeeese... Please".
Jensen's grin brought tingles. Mesmerized, she managed to say, "Okay"
After Claire and the boys left, Jensen asked lightly. "So, are you really coming?"
"I don't think so, Jensen," she said, keeping her tone light.
"Why?" he asked.
"You know why," she replied. "It's not a good idea".
"Fine," he said, "Then I will come to yours. I see you didn't bring your car. Why didn't you?"
"I didn't want to. And it's not that far"
"Then I will give you a ride," he said.
Katherine smiled. "You always find a way to get your way Jensen".
Jensen shrugged. "I have to reach out and take what I want," he said.
When they got to her house, Jensen came in. "I really like the way you arranged the place, Kat," he said. "I never really looked at it since. It looks so....homey".
"Thanks," Katherine said. "Can I get you something to drink?" she asked.
"Just water," he replied.
After Katherine got it and he drank, he said. "You are some lady, Kat. I see it in Tim. Not many parents have the bond with their children that you two share, or respect for each other".
He reached for her fingers and held out loosely. His fingers locked with hers. His fingers tightened on hers, the broad palm rough against her smaller one.
"I admire you, Kat," he continued. "You have to be special to raise a son like Tim. And you are".
"Thank you, Jensen," Katherine said softly. It was so hard to resist him when he was like this. "It's not always easy but I try. I think you are great too. Tim adores you. I gotta admit sometimes I actually get jealous".
Jensen laughed. "Really, you do?" he asked.
Katherine nodded. "Yeah. He talks about you a lot... About ball practice.. About Rufus. I gotta admit it's annoying sometimes"
"Well, you don't have to be jealous, Kat," he said softly. "You can have me too... Actually you kinda do already"
Her body ached for him. She hated that she always responded to him this way. She had to fight this. She told herself. For her own good. But still she hesitated.
"Are you still mad at me?" he asked softly, his eyes on his shoes. "About that night after the party?" It was weird seeing him like that. Jensen was always confident.
"No I'm not," Katherine replied.
"I didn't mean to make you mad, Katherine. That was the last thing I wanted".
"It's fine, Jensen. I'm sorry I got so upset. You did the right thing. I was a bit drunk" she said.
Jensen nodded slowly and then he pulled her towards him and molded her close, struggling within himself. He knew he had to go slow —at her own pace. So she could learn to trust him.
She brushed against him and his entire body clenched in response.
He wasn't the only one affected, he realized in the next instant. Delicate color tinted Katherine's cheeks and her breathing quickened. She wouldn't react to him like this if she didn't want him.
Gently, he slid his hand down the length of her spine, his palm settling into the hollow above her backside. The slightest amount of pressure set her tight against him.
She moaned, the sound barely more than a breathless sigh. But he heard it. He heard it and knew what she wanted.
"You feel it, too. Don't you?" he murmured.
"Yes." Katherine replied.
The admission seemed torn from her. As though stunned by her own daring, she lifted her gaze to his, her eyes darkening like the sky before a gathering storm. But she didn't pull away.
Her attraction was undeniable and impossible to ignore. Everything about her appealed—her full, lush mouth, her eyes, the rich full hair, the low, confidential pitch of her voice.
"You understand now, don’t you?” he whispered against her lips.
"Understand What? " she asked.
"Why I'm not going to let you go. This is how it should be between a man and woman. You can't push me away when you still burn like this for me... You always have. It's like you were made... Just for me"