Page 75 of The Overtime Kiss

Did I really just hear that?

I strain to listen, taking one more careful step.

Everything goes silent. The house is still, and I’m keenly aware of the darkness, the distant sounds of a city quieting for the night, and the hair on my arms standing on end.

Heart pounding, I inch closer, straining to listen.

Then the sound starts again.

A staggered breath.

A grunt.

Through the dim light and the slight crack in the door, I can’t really see much. Some movement under the covers, and my brain scrambles to process the scene.

No way. That’s not?—

Is it?

My breath catches. My pulse skitters wildly, beating so fast it’s like a cartoon character scampering down the street at a million miles an hour.

For one wild second, I debate pushing the door open, verifying with my own eyes.

But self-preservation kicks in. And respect for privacy.

I bolt.

Rushing along the hall, then flying down the stairs, I slip away before I’m caught. Before he realizes I was lingering outside his bedroom door for a few dangerous seconds.

Wondering.

Hoping.

Warring with myself over whether I should push that door open or not.

I land in the kitchen and press a hand against my chest. Swallow. Rewind and replay. Again and again.

I’m warm everywhere. My skin buzzes, adrenaline rushing through me.

I better move, though, just in case he gets up, calls out,“Who’s there?”

I hurdle down the stairs to my apartment, fumble with the keypad, yank the door open, and slam it shut behind me.

A long beat.

I imagine him pushing out of bed, pulling on shorts, padding downstairs, knocking on my door, and asking with a cocky challenge in his gravelly voice:“Did you want to come in?”

Or maybe…

“Why did you leave so quickly? Are you afraid it’ll turn you on too much?”

A burst of pleasure flickers inside me, then ignites like a firework lighting up the night sky. It radiates from my chest, down my arms, to my fingertips. I tingle everywhere. I’m electric.

And wickedly, completely aroused.

The thought of that sexy man taking matters into his own hands is doing wild things to me.

I can’t catch my breath. I’m not even sure I want to. I just want to linger in this hazy, heady sensation where everything is golden and hot.

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