Kane dove his fingers into my hair and brought his mouth to mine. Shock stole my thoughts, or maybe that was the kiss. I’d craved this. I’d wanted his touch so badly. But not because a woman was about to interrupt us.
Those thoughts were fleeting.
His lips demanded every bit of my attention. He kissed me hard, his other hand coming up to cup my jaw and hold me exactly where he wanted me. His thick fingertips grazed the back of my head, and his lips parted mine for his tongue.
I opened for him, one touch shooting desire along my veins. I whimpered with need at the taste of a man so decadently dark I’d never recover from his kiss. Heat scalded me, and my skin came alive to soak in his touch. Despite my overwhelming need to bring him closer, I kept my hands firmly to myself. Instead, I followed his lead, slicking my tongue over his so he rumbled a groan.
That sound went straight to the centre of me. God, I needed more. More of his hold. More of the slightly clumsy way he melded his mouth to mine. It was the most perfect kiss I’d ever known.
He broke for a beat to whisper words. “I wanted that. I want everything.”
A hand tapped his arm.
He ignored it, backing me to the wall to make another attempt at destroying my mouth and my sanity.
“Kane?” The tapping started up again.
With reluctance, I tore my mouth away to take in the woman. She was younger than me, maybe in her early twenties. But it was the way she stared at him that made me want to claw her eyes out.
“Kane, it’s me, Karla.” She waved at him.
Inches from my face, Kane’s attention stayed on me. “Handle it.”
Damn him. I sucked in a shaky breath. “Can I help you?”
Karla shook her head, her curls dancing. “Kane? What are you doing here? I saw you in the club. Apparently you’re looking for someone?”
My brain reset. She might have information. I fumbled for my phone and held it up with Dixie’s picture. “This is who we came to find. Have you seen her?”
Karla peered at it then shrugged. “No clue, can’t help. Hey, Kane? You never answered my messages.”
“Her name’s Dixie. Is that familiar?” I continued.
She curled her manicured fingers around his arm. “Why won’t you talk to me? I was hoping?—”
I saw red and pushed out of his hold and into her space, forcing her away so she’d stop touching him. “In case you didn’t get the hint, he’s not in the mood to talk right now. His lips were on mine just seconds ago, and I’m the one addressing you.”
Karla’s focus finally came to me. She dragged an unimpressed look up and down my body. “His lips have been a lot of places, and they’ll keep on moving. He’s not a keeper.”
I recoiled. “Don’t talk about him like that.”
“Just telling it like it is so you don’t get the wrong impression from a guy you somehow picked up in a club. I’m a girl’s girl, doing you a favour.”
“Keep your favours. Leave him alone.”
I turned to go. Kane stayed with me on our march down the stairs. If he nodded goodbye to the doormen, I didn’t notice, though I was sure to check that Karla didn’t follow. Annoyance had my back up.
I stomped down the street, Kane a shadow over my shoulder.
“Don’t think I’ve ever had anyone defend my honour before.”
“Karla was another hookup, I take it.”
“Once, in Manchester.”
I whirled around and stopped. “You mean you slept with her?”
He watched me carefully. “Yes.”
