She took a step back. What the heck? If he could play her way, they could really take the edge off. Just being in the same room with Hugh sent her nerves all a-fluttery, and that just had to stop. Her nipples hardened.
He reached her, sliding both palms down her arms. “Your rules, huh?”
“Yes.” She lifted her face toward his.
His blue gaze darkened. “No.”
Then he kissed her.
Chapter Ten
I guess maybe starting a romance during a pandemic—possiblythepandemic—isn’t that crazy. What am I saying? That’s insane! But it’s Hugh. I’m thinking he’s worth the risk. Oh, on a business level. We’re closing in on whomever hacked into the Pennsylvania system to learn the systems. I hope.
— Dr. Eleanor Smithers, Brigade Notes
Ellie barely got out a gasp before Hugh deepened the kiss. His force pushed her head back, which conveniently fit right into his big palm. He held her in place, his mouth beyond devastating.
There was an edge to him, to his touch, that hadn’t been there before.
The clock was counting down on all of them, maybe on all of the world. But here, in this moment, there was only the two of them.
Finally.
His lips pressed down on hers, and it was like she’d never stopped wanting him—even after college. She kissed him back, her tongue meeting his. While she’d imagined this, with him, the reality was so much bigger than her fantasies.
Her heart raced. Desire rippled through her, and her nipples tightened even harder against his chest.
Never in her life had she wanted anybody or anything more. Hugh Johnson. He released her enough to let her breathe and slid his tongue over her lower lip. Her knees trembled, and need exploded inside her abdomen.
He leaned back, looking down at her. His strong and chiseled face was set in harsh lines. Desire, a dark hunger, glimmered in his eyes.
Without warning, he lifted her up and pushed her against the wall. The breath whooshed out of her lungs, and she grabbed his chest to keep balance. God, she loved his easy strength. She should be getting his agreement about keeping this casual, even if that’s not what she wanted.
No sane woman would want merely casual with this guy. But it was all he’d offered anybody in the past. And the future looked dismal for pretty much the entire world.
She blinked and tried to think of words. Her body was splintering apart. “Hugh.”
“Forget the world. Forget fears and threats,” he rasped, the tone of his voice licking right along her skin. “Stay with me. Right now.”
God, she wanted him. Wanted to forget the threats around them and just fall into this heat. Passion and need consumed her.
“I want you. So bad it’s nearly impossible,” he murmured, one broad hand brushing her hair away from her face, even as he kept her pinned against the wall.
Had anybody ever wanted her this badly? If so, she couldn’t remember.
And she was on fire. The fierce lust in his eyes was burning her alive, and she had never needed like this. Could this be healthy? “Hugh. Now.” They had way too many clothes on.
He easily ripped her shirt over her head, and she lifted her arms, letting him take her bra with it. No way would he let her fall. Her shirt flew over his shoulder, and she grabbed his, yanking up. He ducked his head to help.
Then all of that smooth skin over hard muscle was in her hands. She moaned, running her palms across his strong chest.
He set her down and released her jeans, taking them to the ground in one smooth motion. With indulgent gentleness, he lifted her again, setting her bare ass on the clean table. The fake wood was cold against her skin, which had heated beyond reason. She grasped his bunched biceps to keep from falling back. “Hugh?”
He leaned in, and she felt the rough touch of his fingers on her inner thigh. Electricity zapped through her. She arched toward him, needing more. So much more. Getting lost in him, forgetting the horrible reality they all lived in, felt almost as good as his touch.
She craved him. Right here and right now. To wipe fear away and just live.
His fingers moved beneath the edge of her panties. She shut her eyes, and small sparks lit behind her eyelids. Material ripped, and then two of his fingers pushed into her sex.
