The space between us disappears, and he presses a light, warm kiss against my mouth, barely more than a brush but lighting up every nerve ending in my lips. My hands come to his chest, and even through his suit, I can feel his heart pounding against the firm muscle. His stubble tickles my chin, his scent surrounds me, blurring my thoughts, and I just—relax.
Every part of me eases into him, like this is what I need. Like this is what I’ve been missing.
My eyes open, and his do, too, low-lidded with surprise, confusion, and wonder. We stare at each other, a question in his eyes.
He’s so careful with me. Like I’m important and special. Something to be cherished.
I nod, and he lowers his mouth again, faster this time. Harder. He tilts my head back, coaxing my mouth open with his, and I let him. I let him slide against my tongue, I let him groan into my mouth in that desperate, hungry way, and I let him walk me back until I’m pressed against the door.
So this is what it’s like when Tate Ward finally takes what he wants. This is what he’s like when he snaps.
“Jesus Christ,” he mutters, kissing me harder. Taking more from me.
“What are we doing?” I whisper against his lips.
“I don’t know.” He pulls back, breathing hard, and stares at my mouth like it’s a problem he can’t figure out. “You said I should take something for myself, once in a while.”
I nod, heart pounding, holding his eyes, running my fingers up the back of his neck, into his hair. When his eyelids close and he sighs, it’s like a match is lit inside my chest.
“Is this what you need, Tate?”
Are you lonely, Tate?
I am, I think, but moments like these make me feel less so.
His eyes lift to mine, dark and unfocused, and he nods. I don’t know who starts the next kiss, him or me. His hand is on the back of my neck, hauling my mouth to his, but I’m going willingly. A groan vibrates through his chest.
Thisis the reaction I wanted. He’s so controlled, so responsible, sogood, and yet he’s claiming my mouth like he’s wanted this forever. Like he’s desperate for me. Like his control is shot and he can’t help himself and he’sfinallytaking what he wants.
What he needs.
“You’re so perfect,” he murmurs, pressing hot, sucking kisses down my neck, and I’m speechless at the sharp sensations running through me.
Sothisis what kissing is. He’s still gripping my hair like he’s afraid I’m going to disappear, his other hand running over my ass, my thigh, my back, like he can’t decide where he wants to touch more. He’s taking everything he can, devouring me, and I encourage it, giving him my neck so he can scrape his teeth over the sensitive part at the base, tugging lightly on his hair to hear more of those deep groans.
Tate’s audible pleasure is now an addiction. Those noises? I’ll hear them for the rest of my life.
An ache builds, low in my abdomen, as he consumes me. Arousal seizes me, making my nipples tighten, my breasts feel heavy and touch-deprived, making me arch against him.
My breath catches. He’s hard against my stomach, andbig. Confidence-inducing big. I shouldn’t be surprised, and yet my panties are damp and I’m picturing this moment turning, fast. I’m picturing him backing me into my room and us falling on the bed. I’m picturing sinking down on his thick length, or trying to, because it’s been a while for me and he would take some adjusting to, and it would hurt a little, and is it concerning that that turns me on even more?
The elevator at the end of the hall opens and it’s like a bucket of cold water drops over Tate. Immediately, he pulls back, blinking like he’s waking from a dream.
“I’m sorry,” he says. “We shouldn’t have done this. I’m so sorry.”
The look of regret on his face—I can’t.
“Hey.” He steps back into my space, towering over me, holding my eyes like this is very, very important. “This is not me rejecting you, Jordan. I meant what I said about you staying with the team.” His jaw works like he’s biting the inside of his cheek, taking a deep,steadying breath. “I want you, but I want you on the team more. I can’t be selfish like that.” He covers my hand with his, beeps my keycard against the lock, and opens the door, hand on my lower back as he pushes me inside.
The door closes behind me and I listen to his deep sigh before his footsteps move down the hall as he walks away.
CHAPTER 57
TATE
“We should invite Jordan,”Bea says as I’m pulling plates down for dinner the next weekend. “She likes pizza.”
I glance through the kitchen window to the guesthouse. It’s raining hard, but I can see the lights are on. She’s at the counter in her own kitchen, on her laptop. Is she working?
