Oh, game on, she thought in delight.
She pressed her mouth deeper against his. Her right arm remained on his chest while she curled her non-powered one around the back of his neck. It had been so long that she didn’t want to lose control. At least, not like that.
He echoed her move, sliding the hand on her waist up the curve of her back, gently trailing his fingers up her spine, her neck. Cupping the back of her head, he speared his fingers into her hair.
Mouth to mouth. Breath to breath. She wanted to devour him. She angled her head and deepened the kiss.
The hand on her butt tightened and pulled her flush against him. Her pelvis pressed against his, and it was impossible to miss the hard length of his erection. She pressed closer, rubbing against him.
He broke the kiss with a groan. “Stop,” he said. “We’ve got to stop.”
The word registered and Taryn immediately pulled back. She couldn’t stop her whimper of disappointment, though. “Are you okay? Did I hurt you?”
She stepped back—tried to anyway—but his hands held her close.
His breath whooshed in and out. So did hers.
“I’m fine. Great even,” he said with a smile, “but you didn’t intend for this to happen in the hallway, did you?”
With her head still spinning, Taryn wasn’t even sure what “this” was. She’d intended to kiss him. Maybe more. But ramped up on adrenaline, victory, and desire, the kiss had escalated faster than she’d expected.
“You’re right,” she said as soon as she caught her breath. “I hadn’t planned on attacking you in the hallway.” This time when she stepped back, he let her. Her gaze dropped to the evidence of his arousal, then surged upward again. “You’re too damn attractive for your own good,” she growled. She hadn’t been that swept away in, well, ever.
“Backatcha.”
His words brought a blush to her cheeks and sent a glow of pleasure rushing through her body. She received compliments daily from patrons who wanted to win the Jack’s favor. They rolled off her, because as sincere as they might be, they were still looking for something.
Sure, Ash wanted something too. But his ragged breathing and obvious arousal weren’t just business.
She smiled at him, letting him see how much she appreciated his words.
“Damn, girl,” he said. “Wait ’til we’re out of the hallway.”
She’d been about to swoop in for another kiss, but stilled. Right. Out of the hallway.
“Yeah, um, this way.” Taryn released his shirt and smoothed out the wrinkled fabric. It was polite. Not because she wanted to run her hands over his chest again.
His hands wrapped around hers. “Hallway bad,” he said with a chuckle.
“Hallway bad,” she repeated. She freed one hand and left the other where it was while she decided where to take him.
“It’s okay if you changed your mind,” he said.
“No, I haven’t changed my mind.” She met his gaze, let him see the undiminished attraction.
Her office was closest. Her bedroom, on the other hand, well, it had a bed. The bed sounded so good, it was probably undermining her judgment.
Office it was.
With their hands linked together, Taryn led him down the hall.
Quick steps took them to her office, and through the door, which she took care to lock behind them. Then she pressed him against the door.
With a growl, his mouth was back on hers.
“I can’t get enough.” He dropped his head into the crook of her neck, pressing his lips to the sensitive skin just below her jaw.
Her head dropped back with a moan as he peppered little kisses on her skin. Her eyes fluttered closed. His breath was warm through the layers she wore.
