His eyes trail across my face, like he’s searching for something.
There’s a sudden clap of thunder, and I jump as fat raindrops start to spatter against the window pane. I guess the storm finally reached us. “Jesus.” I press a hand over my thudding heart. “That scared the shit out of me.”
Kenta doesn’t look away from me. “You’re okay,” he says quietly, touching a hand under my cheek. Everything in my body stills. Slowly, he leans forward and touches his lips to mine, just as white lightning flickers through the room.
It’s the softest kiss I’ve ever had. Barely a brush of skin on skin. For some reason, that just makes it hotter. I want more. I sway into him gently, but he pulls back, staying just out of my reach. “Stay still,” he says quietly.
I don’t move. I just sit there, my pulse hammering, waiting. Last night, I got to be in charge, and I liked that a lot… but now, I want to see whathewants.
What he wants is to be gentle.
He reaches up and gently touches his finger to my collarbone. Tingles flow through my skin, and my eyes flutter shut. I can feel him everywhere; his warm arm brushing against mine, the soft cotton of his t-shirt rubbing my chest through my clothes. His mouth touches mine again, and I taste the hot sweetness of the whiskey he’s been drinking. He presses a little kiss to my cupid’s bow, then another just under my bottom lip, tracing my mouth with his. I sigh as lust slowly rolls through me.
“I like this,” I murmur, as he carefully nudges my lips apart with his. I feel his smile against my mouth.
“Thought you liked it hard,” he murmurs, stroking a hand down my arm. I feel electricity prickle through me as all the fine hairs on my skin stand on end. “You seemed quite insistent about it last night.”
“I like you,” I say. “More than I expected.” He makes a soft noise, his mouth becoming more demanding. I feel urgency building in my belly, but I ignore it, letting him keep the kiss slow and heavy. He touches the side of my face, tilting my cheek slightly, and then softly bites my bottom lip, sucking it into his mouth.I gasp, leaning into him.
A scream shatters through the room. My eyes widen. I pull away, staring at the guys’ bedroom door. It sounds like someone’s being murdered inside.
Matt.
Twenty-Nine
Briar
?
Kenta swears and jumps to his feet, jogging out of the room. For a few seconds, I sit frozen on the couch. I’m not sure what to do. Has someone come inside the suite? Do I need to hide?
The screaming suddenly stops, and I hear Kenta murmuring something. He doesn’t sound scared at all. Just kind of… soothing. I slip off the couch and follow him to the bedroom. When I push open the door, the room is dark. The curtains are pushed open, and I can see the LA sky storming outside. Lightning flickers again, illuminating Kenta standing over the bed, talking softly.
“You’re okay, man. You’re good.” There’s a broken sobbing noise, and ice slips down the back of my throat.
“What’s wrong with him?” I demand. “Is he hurt?”
Kenta glances over his shoulder. “Briar, he’s fine, you don’t have to see this.”
I ignore him, pushing into the room. Matt is sitting hunched on the bed, breathing hard. He has a hand twisted in the hem of Kenta’s shirt, like he’s trying to hold the man in place.
“What’s wrong?” I ask again.
Kenta sighs. “Nothing. He just had a night terror. They’ve been getting worse recently.” His lips twist into a wry smile. “Nice little leftover from our time in the force.”
Matt lets go of Kenta and runs a heavy hand through his thick hair. He’s still dressed in dress pants and a crumpled shirt, and his skin is flushed and sweaty. “Briar…” he rasps. “I’m sorry.”
I stare at him. “For what? Did you wet the bed, or something? It’s fine, I don’t mind having an incontinent bodyguard.”
He looks up at me, panting. Heat is climbing up his neck and cheeks. He looks completely humiliated, and I don’t know why. Kenta glances at me awkwardly, like he’s embarrassed that I’m here.
“What?” I demand. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Matt gulps in another breath and hangs his head. “Sorry you had to see that.”
My mouth drops. “Sorry I had toseeit? What the fuck does that mean? It wasn’t particularly hard tosee.I’m sorryyouhad to experience it.”
He shakes his head, shame written all over his face.
