“Wait, Maddox?”I asked.“As in Adrian Maddox?”
“Not this time,” he said.“One of his younger brothers.”
I blinked, impressed despite myself.“You tattoo the Maddox family?”
“When they're not busy making money,” he admitted lightly, chuckling.
Silence settled again and I bit my lip.His eyes dropped to my mouth again, making me shuffle on my feet.
My gaze narrowed.“Stop doing that.”
“Doing what?”
“You know what.”Before he could tease me further, I changed the subject.“Remember that the rehearsal dinner is tonight at the Carrion Hotel.Six o’clock.”
My gaze drifted to his wrist where the black watch shone under the light.
I smiled slightly.“Better use that thing to keep showing up on time.”
He chuckled and murmured something under his breath.Then he pushed off the door, stepping toward me, his heated eyes never leaving mine.
My stomach fluttered.
I lifted a hand instinctively.“We should probably get back out there.”
“I need to kiss you.”
Goosebumps broke out across my arms and I blinked rapidly.I licked my lips, fighting the urge to tug him closer to me.His gaze darkened and I swallowed rather loudly.“Don't.”
I really need to get out of here.
Pushing off the counter, I made to move past him, but his hand landed gently against my stomach, stopping me cold.Butterflies erupted, and I looked down at the palm splayed across my stomach then up at him, breath hitching.
“Jaxon.”
“We’re supposed to look like we’ve been getting all hot and bothered in here.Wouldn't want to fail at playing the part, now, would we?”
Before I could answer, he backed me lightly toward the door, brushing a kiss to my cheek—then trailing lower, along the line of my jaw, hovering at my neck.My palms ended up pressed against his chest—his very hard chest.
My heart slammed against my ribs.“Jaxon.”
He inhaled slowly, like he was memorizing me.
“You've been haunting me, trouble,” he murmured against my skin, voice low and dangerous .“Tearing my mind apart.”
“I…”
My response wavered at the feel of his hand sliding from my waist down to my thigh.His lips walked a traitor's path down my neck, igniting every fiber of my being.He hooked my left leg on his hip and pressed himself into me, giving me an idea of just how much haunting I was doing to him.
I bit my lip to stop the gasp from leaving my lips.
“Do you know how hard it is to concentrate on anything when all I can think about is kissing you?Tasting you?Fucking you?All I can think about is you and how good you taste coming on my tongue.”
My breathing fractured.
My pulse jumped.
And for a moment, I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to push him away… or pull him closer.
