Page 69 of Something Like That

“Do you want to get a night cap? The hotel bar is just around the corner.” He grabbed her other hand, so he was holding both. He needed to touch her.

She gave him that sweet, shy smile, the one he felt all the way to his bone marrow, and shook her head. “No, I want to go up to your room and get out of these shoes.”

He raised an eyebrow, but felt the corner of his mouth lift in a half smile. “Do I need to carry you?”

She laughed, the sound bright and airy. His gut tightened. “No,” she said, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “I think I can make it.”

“Let’s not risk it.” He scooped her up, cradling her against his chest.

She stiffened for a second and then laughed again, melting against him. His cock decided it liked the sound. A lot. She wrapped her arms around his neck, wiggled her feet.

The scent of coconut hit him. He closed his eyes and buried his face in her hair. He’d never be able to smell it again without thinking of her.

Without thinking about this night.

He strode over to the bank of elevators, but quickly realized pushing the button was going to be a bit of a problem. But putting her down was out of the question.

As if reading his thoughts, she reached out and pressed the button. “Here, let me.”

The elevator door whooshed open. It was almost as if it had been waiting of them. He took that as a sign the universe approved.

Thankfully, there was no one else in the elevator. He stepped inside and turned around. She reached out and pressed the close door button. A woman after his own heart.

He whispered the floor number in her ear, nuzzling against her. She tilted her head, giving him better access and pushed the button for his floor. Goosebumps sprouted along her skin. He wanted to chase them with his lips, his teeth, his tongue. She made a little, almost mewling, noise in the back of her throat.

He pulled away from her—which was one of the hardest things he’d ever had to do—and watched the numbers flash above their heads, silently praying to whoever was listening that no one delayed their trip up to the twenty-fifth floor.

“You know,” she said, sifting her fingers through his hair. Electricity skittered down spine. He fought the shiver lingering just beneath his skin. “You can put me down. I am perfectly capable of making it on my own.”

He shook his head. “Sorry, it’s a risk we just can’t take.” His voice came out all low and husky. He brushed his thumb against the silky fabric of her dress on the back of her thigh.

She sucked in a shaky breath, so he did it again. This time, she made another mewling sound in the back of her throat. It went straight to his cock.

The elevator dinged and the doors opened. He strode out, turning left toward his room. No one else was in the hallway. He stopped in front of his room door and frowned.

Getting the door open with her in his arms was never going to work. The key card was in his wallet, which was in his pants pocket. And while he would love nothing more than for her to root around in his jeans, it just wasn’t practical.

Reluctantly, he lowered her to her feet.

She leaned her shoulder against the wall and stared up at him through her lashes. Fuck, she was gorgeous.

He fumbled his wallet out of his pants and the card into the slot. Why were his hands so shaky? He pushed the door open and held it with his arm, indicating she should enter with a sweep of his arm.

She slipped inside the room, brushing against him on the way. There was no doubt it was intentional. The tease.

He stepped into the room behind her. She’d stopped just inside the door. The door whooshed shut behind him. He was about to ask what was wrong, when she spun around and gave him a push. His back hit the door.

And then she was kissing him.

Hard and desperate.

Her lips moved over his, her tongue brushing against his lips, seeking entrance. He grabbed her hips, opened his mouth. Her tongue swept inside, demanding and hot. She tasted like cool, clean peppermint and sweet, sexy woman. The combination was intoxicating, addictive.

He slid his tongue against hers, tasting and teasing. She moaned, the sound bouncing through him, sending his cock to rapt attention.

She pulled away from his lips. He actually fucking whimpered. She laughed, and trailed hot, wet kisses across his jaw and down his throat. He tilted his head back to give her more room. Closed his eyes. Lifted his hands, spearing his fingers through her soft, silky hair, holding her close.

She ran her fingers up the front of his shirt and over his shoulders, pushing his coat off. He let her go, his coat slipping to the ground. He kicked it aside.