This might be a mistake. Thisprobablywas a mistake. But my internal alarm had been blaring from the moment Rancid Breath Douchebag had sat down next to me, when it hadn’t so much as beeped while in an enclosed elevator with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Grumpy.
Besides, a guy who listened to his mom dish about her latest romance novel couldn’t be all bad. Could he?
I’d taken only three steps toward him when his gaze landed—and stayed—on mine. He watched my approach with an intense focus I felt all the way to my toes.
And I had absolutely no business liking that as much as I did.
I didn’t slow my steps, worried if I did, I’d second-guess just what the hell I was doing and be right back at square one—orworse, with Chief Creep following me to my room. I had pepper spray somewhere in my bag, but I’d rather not have to spray a random guy outside my hotel room and deal with the cops tonight.
The space around Mr. Tall, Dark, and Grumpy was sparse, as if no one else had the audacity to step too close.
But I did.
I stepped right up to him, craning my head back to meet his eyes. He didn’t say anything, but he studied me intently, trying to get a read on what was happening.
I rested one hand on the hard expanse of his chest. His skin was warm beneath my touch, his heart thrumming in a steady beat. With my other hand, I reached up and wrapped my fingers around the nape of his neck, all too aware that the only reason I was able to tug his face toward mine was because he let me.
He silently studied me the entire time, but those deep whiskey eyes were broadcasting everything he wasn’t saying. Namely, just what in the fuck was I doing?
Great question. Getting Chief Creep off my ass was my main objective. But doing that while also making him think this beast of a man was mine? That Laurel and I would be under his protection? That would be the cherry on top. Because no one in their right mind could look at this guy and think he’d do anything less than irrevocably fuck you up for just looking the wrong way at what was his.
When our mouths were so close I could feel his breath with each exhale, I whispered, “Please play along.”
And then I steeled my nerves, closed my eyes, and pressed my lips against this stranger’s.
CHAPTER THREE
SUTTON
Kissinga stranger should not feel like coming home.
Exceptcoming homewasn’t quite right. That was too gentle for what this was. For what stirred inside me when this man banded an arm around my lower back, lifting me flush against him so that only my tiptoes anchored me to the floor. Too gentle for the response that hummed in my body when he parted his lips and brushed his tongue against mine.
And the groan he released straight into my mouth the second our tongues touched? That sure as fuck wasn’t gentle.
Jesus, I wanted to climb him like a tree. Was actually gripping the collar of his suit jacket like I might try it right here in the bar. I didn’t care that we had an audience. Barely even remembered why I was doing this in the first place. I just wanted to cling on for dear life and allow myself to be taken anywhere—anywhere—this man wanted to take me.
The way he cupped his other hand at the base of my skull, his fingers delving into my hair, said he had a lot of ideas about doing just that. Screamed it even louder when he brought his thumb to my chin, guiding me to open myself farther for him, allowing his tongue even deeper. So calm and confident and sure in a situation that was anything but.
Mygod, it’d been a long time since I’d been kissed like this. Actually, I wasn’t sure I’deverbeen kissed like this. Like I was an oasis in the middle of a desert, that first gulp of fresh air after cresting the surface of the sea.
He wasdevouringme. And I was letting him.
His massive body was warm and firm, a steady rock holding me up. And thank god for that, because I had no hope of doing so myself. My nipples were tight points against his chest, and I had very little doubt he could feel them. Because my dumb ass hadn’t thought it imperative to pair a bra with my pseudo pajamas. These barely B cups usually didn’t need one.
Usually.
Unless, of course, I was dry humping the hottest man I’d ever seen and my pussy was loudly reminding me just how lonely she’d been with only silicone to keep her company.
After too long and yet not nearly long enough, he pulled back, both of us breathing heavily into the scant space between us. “You’re trouble, aren’t you?”
“More like in trouble. But thank you,” I murmured against his lips. Mostly because I was still dangling off the floor, and he didn’t seem in a hurry to set me down. “I just really needed?—”
“Anything.”
“There was this creepy guy, and he?—”
“I’ll kill him.” Storm clouds descended over his features as he glanced around the room, pinning each man with a glare.
