AN: Posting a second to make up for the gap in posting.
Confusion
"What the hell was that?" he demanded, stalking after the petite brunette as she hedged past him without a word, her cheeks flushed with discomfit.
"What?" she murmured absently, biting her lip as she pressed chilled fingers to her cheeks to cool the fire burning beneath her skin.
"That!" he cried, gesturing to his smirking twin who was looking far too smug after trying to steal a kiss. Glowering at his dupe, he grit his teeth and swung his attention back to the woman who had been haunting his thoughts far too often lately.
"Can you be a little more specific, Michael?" she asked, annoyance shading her voice, the pink slowly draining from her still hot cheeks. Smoothing back the fly away strands teasing her face, she stared at the open door blankly, mind whirling over the implications of the conversation she'd had. Could he be right?
"The kiss?" he growled as he crossed his arms, heart sinking as he watched her continued distraction.
"Kiss?" Her brow furrowed, confusion clouding her eyes as she ripped them away from the door and met his annoyed bourbon-colored eyes. Clarity dawned in hers and she shrugged dismissively, still floored by Rath's comments. "Oh. That. Ummm…it was nothing."
"It didn't look like nothing from where I was standing, Parker!" Michael griped, jealousy tearing at his gut as he tried to tamp down the power building in his body. Scowling at his faux brother's obvious amusement, his heart pinched at her indifference towards Rath's actions.
Shaking her head to clear it, Liz focused on the scowling man in front of her, rubbing her temples as she wonders if Rath was right in his assessment of Michael's feelings. "It was just Rath…being Rath. He was teasing. Why does it matter, Michael?" she queried distractedly.
"Why does it matter?" he grit out, frustration lacing his voice. Surely she couldn't be that blind, could she? Stalking over to her, he yanked her to him, fist tangling in silky molasses strands as his lips crashed against hers, moving against them urgently as he pressed her into the wall behind them.
A surprised gasp bubbled over her lips, which he used to his advantage and deepened the kiss, snaking his tongue into her mouth, exploring the sweet heat feverishly. Her eyes slid shut as she got lost in the caress and fitting her body to his, slid her hands into sandy waves, her breathy moan lost against his scorching lips.
He cupped the back of her head, crushing her to him harder, pouring months of frustrated desire into a devouring kiss that was all teeth, tongues, fire, and blinding passion. Ripping his mouth from hers, molten caramel stared down into hazy coffee orbs, noses pressed together as both dragged air back into their starving lungs.
"Why does it matter?" he panted, setting her away from him, dragging his hands through his hair in agitation. "Think about it, Parker."
Michael backed away and stormed out of the diner, leaving a gaping, dazed Liz in his wake. She licked her lips; unconsciously seeking the last rich, decadent dark chocolate and spice taste of him. Letting out a shaky breath, she stared after the tall alien, a perplexed sigh passing over her still tingling lips. "Well."
Turning to her right, she saw Rath shaking his head in resigned amusement and snickering. "Told ya sweets! Duke's hot for you."