“You’re right,” he said, his voice warm.“It would be a terrible idea.”
He took a step closer.She inhaled that now-familiar scent—clean, masculine, impossible to forget.She wanted to bottle it.Maybe spray it on her pillow.
No.Bad idea.She’d never sleep again if she could smell him all night.
“But coming with me,” he said softly, “would also be anadventure.”
“One that many women never come back from,” she countered dryly.
His eyes turned serious.“I vow thatyouwill.”
She shook her head, still torn.“It wouldn’t be smart.”
“Why not?”he asked.
“Because if I went with you now, I might just...”She trailed off, gesturing vaguely.Words wouldn’t come.
Zayn studied her for a long moment, then his voice dropped to a velvet murmur.“How about dinner tomorrow night?”
She blinked, caught off guard.“Just dinner?”
“Just dinner,” he promised, stepping closer again.He took her hand, lacing his fingers through hers, pressing their palms together.“No expectations.No commitment.Just...time.”
It was tempting—dangerously so.
They’d already spent two hours in conversation earlier, and she’d wanted more.Stillwanted more.
“Aren’t you supposed to go into hiding?”she asked.
He smiled.“No.I don’t hide.We’ll move to another hotel, of course, for security.But I have too many meetings to leave town.Going underground would just create chaos.”
She felt a wave of relief at that.
“Well then...yes.I’d love to have dinner with you tomorrow.”
He tugged her gently forward, still holding her hand.His other hand lifted to cradle the back of her neck.
Azlyn felt the tension melt from her spine as she leaned into the warmth of his touch.She nearly purred—but the sound turned into a gasp when he leaned in andkissed her.
It wasn’t gentle.
It washungry.
His lips demanded a response, and she gave it willingly.
Her body arched into him, her mouth opening, chasing the taste of him, the feel of him.Her free hand slid up his chest, slowly wrapping around his neck.She whimpered when he pulled her closer, lifting her off the ground until they were pressed together from lips to knees.
And still—it wasn’t enough.
A knock at the door startled them both.
Zayn glanced toward it but didn’t let her go.
They stood there, breathless, suspended in the quiet aftermath of that kiss.
“Are yousureyou don’t want to come with me?”he murmured, his hands sliding down her sides, dangerously close to temptation.
Azlyn had to fight for coherent thought.
