Page 163 of Till The Sun Dies (Checkmate 2)

Her scent fills my lungs, her hair tickles my jaw, and the strawberry flavor on her lips intoxicates me until I can’t help but slide my hands over her ass and hold on tight.

Gasping, she breaks the kiss, but only to slide her tongue over my jaw. “This is better than last night. This is way better.”

Chuckling, I hold her close and bury my face in her neck. “I’ve waited so long for you, Laine. It’s better, because we’re not lying anymore.” I slide my tongue over her collarbone and give my thanks to the universe. “It’s better because you admit it, too.”

Stepping back, she breaks our contact – and the spell she’d bewitched me with.

My heart slams inside my chest when she puts space between us, but her hand slides into mine, her lips remain in a smile. Pulling me along, slowly, with a playful smile, she draws me through the crowd and out the other side until we reach the doors.

“Laine…”

“Come with me,” she whispers. “Don’t say no. Please don’t say no. Just say the love thing again, then come with me.” Pulling me through the doors and into the sea breeze, she pulls me along the sidewalk with shaking hands and a straight spine.

No words are spoken as we move the small distance between the bar and our hotel, but our body language changes. Instead of pulling me along, I bring her under my arm and luxuriate in the way she wraps her arms around my hips and snuggles in.

We move into the hotel foyer, past the fancy doormen, and draw eyes like everyone knows what we just did.

What we’re about to do.

We move to an open elevator and step in, then I lose my cool and crush my fist to the control panel for our floor. Laine giggles at my impatience, but she doesn’t peel her body off mine; she steps in until our legs are tangled and her heart pounds against my chest, then she slides her hands around to my ass, grabs on, and giggles. “I always wondered what your ass felt like.”

Chuckling, I lean in and nuzzle her neck. “You did? That’s… random.”

She pinches, then giggles when I bite her neck. “I really did. Did you ever wonder what it’d be like to make love to me, Ang?” I groan into her hair when she pulls my hips closer to hers. “Gliding in. Out. I’d grab on and let you use me up until I can do nothing but sleep.”

“Fuck….” I drop my forehead to her shoulder and groan when the floor numbers slow to a crawl.

First floor.

Second floor.

Third floor.

“Ang?”

“What?”

She snickers. “Did you ever wonder?”

“Yes.” I knead her ass in my hands and bask in the vibrations that work through her chest. Leaning in, I rest my brow on hers and study her eyes. “I thought about it so often, the guys would shoot me if they knew. I thought about you so often, we might as well just name my hand after you.”

Her eyes flash over my face. “Your hand? Did you touch yourself thinking of me?”

“Hundreds of times. Thousands.” I slide my tongue along her bottom lip and swallow her sigh. “The first time was after I drove you home after that asshole’s party. You were all wet and beautiful. Your top was see-through. Did you know that?”

With twitching lips, she brings her hands up to scratch the back of my neck. “Maybe I knew that. I didn’t throw myself in the pool on purpose, but I possibly would have if it made you look at my boobs more often.”

“Mmm.” I slide a hand over her ribs and stop on her full breast. “I always wanted to touch. I always wanted to keep you all for myself.” I lean in and pull her tongue into my mouth. Her nails dig in and a deep groan reverberates from her chest to mine, but then the elevator dings and that same elderly couple from earlier stop mid-step and eye us.

The lady – the judgmental bitch – clutches at her bag and harrumphs.

“I know.” I grab Laine’s hand and pull her into the hall. “We’re sinners. Thieves. Probably do the devil’s work. Relax, lady, we aren’t gonna steal your purse.” I yank Laine along the hall and grin when she runs behind me amid bubbling laughter.

“You know that woman?”

“Uh-huh.” I stop at our door and swipe the card to unlock the handle. “We saw her on the way out. She’s a bitch.” I pull her through the door and slam it shut again. Flipping the locks, I turn back and stare into beautiful eyes that have transformed back to wary. “You don’t have to do this. You don’t have to do anything. You can trust me.”

Stepping forward and resting her hands on my chest, she gently pushes me back and doesn’t stop until my back is against the door. “I want to be with you, Ang.” Standing on her toes, she nips at my jaw and sends licks of fire through my gut. “In the fancy bed with the fancy sheets. I want to know what it’s like to be loved.”

---