Page 39 of Storm Warning
Kate looked up at him, the shift of her movement against his body warm and real. A spark of warmth shone in her eyes, reflecting the moonlight. “You are indeed lucky,” she said, her voice laced with a wistful note that made him want to pull her closer. “Callie is that for me. Officially, she’s my personal assistant, but she’s more like a sister. Since the day we met, she jumped right in, managing everything I didn’t realize needed handling.”
She smiled wryly. “Most of the time, that’s me. I tend to hibernate. If I could get internet in a cave, I’d move there in two seconds flat. I don’t like socializing. I’m not comfortable with people. Callie forces me out, makes me do things. Like dragging me to the zoo the day before my book tour started. And shopping for this trip.”
A light laugh escaped her, brightening the atmosphere around them like a candle being lit in a dark room, and Nick’s heart lifted in response. “She took one look at what I had packed, harrumphed, and took off. When I arrived here and opened my suitcase, almost everything was different—she replaced it all without saying a word. Of course, she was right. I didn’t have appropriate clothes for a resort like this.”
Her expression shifted from gratitude to amusement as she spoke, the play of emotions across her features mesmerizing him, and it warmed him to see her smile so freely.
Nick flashed a wicked grin, his pulse kicking up a notch. “Well, I approve of what I’ve seen so far of your new wardrobe.” His playful demeanor faded as he gazed into her eyes, replacedby a burning desire he could no longer ignore. Heat pooled in his belly and made his breath come faster.
“This dress, for example, is killing me. All I can think about is sliding my hands under that swingy skirt and touching all the silky smooth skin I know is under there.” His words hung in the air, charged with electricity that seemed to crackle between them.
Suiting action to words, he slid his hand to her knee—her skin warm against his palm—before drifting up her thigh beneath the fabric of her dress. Every inch ignited his senses: the softness of her skin, the subtle tremor beneath his fingertips, and her shiver, a response that stirred something primal and deep within him, making his blood run hot.
He nudged her chin upward with his free hand, their eyes locking, connecting in a moment so charged it echoed in his bones. Her pupils had dilated, her lips slightly parted, and her pulse fluttered rapidly where his thumb rested against her jaw. “Tell me when to stop,” he murmured, the heat of his breath mingling with the anticipation of the moment as he closed the distance, his heart thundering, sealing his mouth to hers.
Chapter 17
Ignition
Firm lips captured hers,and Kate’s heart stuttered as sensation shot straight through her core. His mouth moved slowly, sensually, coaxing a sigh from deep within her.
She traced her trembling fingers up his solid chest, reveling in the strength of his muscles as they shifted beneath her hands, the heat of his skin burning through the thin fabric of his shirt. His nipples tightened in response, and a surge of feminine power rushed through her. His tongue teased her lips, a tantalizing invitation she couldn’t resist. Kate opened her mouth to him, surrendering as his tongue danced inside, playful, commanding, daring her to follow.
Her head spun as he pulled her onto his lap, the prominent bulge in his pants pressing against her core. Her legs rested on either side of him, straddling him, the heat radiating between them so palpable she could barely breathe. The position left her vulnerable, exposed, achingly aware of every hard inch of him beneath her.
Nick's fingers glided over her upper thighs, tracing patterns, setting her skin alight with need, yet he kept his touch respectful, deliberately teasing her. His thumbs moved back and forthin maddening circles, raising goosebumps along her flesh, igniting a fire. Her heart raced in rhythm with his, a wild tempo echoed by the throbbing between her thighs as he finally released her mouth.
“Damn, you taste amazing.” Nick's voice was rough, gravelly with desire.
The wet heat of his mouth traveled down her throat, licking and sucking, placing open-mouthed kisses as he went. Each sensual caress stoked the fire in her veins, making her crave more, making her forget why she should want less. Tilting her head back, Kate surrendered to the onslaught of pleasure, committing his every kiss, every nip, every scrape of teeth to memory.
Sharp tingles shot up her arms as she twisted her fingers in his hair, reveling in its silky texture, tugging just enough to elicit a groan from deep in his chest. Desire pooled in her core, throbbing with each scratch of her nails on his scalp and shudder of his body against hers. Gasping for air, Kate basked in the erotic dance of his tongue on her flushed skin, the cool breeze a torturous contrast which only heightened her sensitivity to his touch, making her nipples peak beneath her thin shirt.
He nuzzled into the crook of her neck, wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace and stilled, letting them both come back down while keeping her pressed against his hard body. His heart hammered against her ribs, his breath coming in ragged gasps that matched her own.
Kate rested there, her pulse pounding in her ears, her body thrumming with unslaked need, waiting for her heartbeat to slow. She’d never dreamed a kiss could set her body on fire, never experienced anything remotely close. Her ex was worthless—no, worse than worthless. He’d left her believing she was broken, incapable of this kind of raw, consuming desire.
Kate blinked as Nick lifted his head, his breath warm and heavy against her skin. A shiver raced up her spine as he brushed his thumb along her jawline, tilting her face towards him, his eyes ensnaring hers with an intensity that made her forget how to breathe. Electricity crackled in the air between them, tightening the coil of need in her belly until it bordered on pain.
“That was amazing, but if we don’t stop now, I won’t be able to.” Nick tenderly swept a lock of her hair back behind her ear, his fingers lingering against her temple. “And I don’t think you are ready for more.”
Kate didn’t respond; was unable to respond. She desperately wanted him—wanted to relish the feel of his skin against hers, wanted to know what it would be like to let go—but he was right: she wasn’t ready for much more. Not emotionally. Everything around them faded away until only his hypnotic eyes held her captive. The world narrowed to the space between their bodies, to the heat and the want and the terrible, beautiful tension of holding back.
Slowly, Nick lowered his mouth to hers again, snatching the air from her lungs. Kate melted under the onslaught, her body going pliant as her core tightened with need. Soft lips turned bruising as his tongue invaded her mouth once more, stroking deep, claiming her in a way that had her whimpering into his mouth.
With tremendous effort, Kate tore herself away from the temptation of his mouth, his body, gulping in a shuddering breath. His smoldering gaze locked with hers, dark with an unspoken hunger that made her feel desired in a way she’d never experienced. She traced his features with trembling fingers, marveling at the flush across his handsome face and the rapid pulse fluttering in his neck. She did that to him. She made this strong, controlled man lose his composure.
Her voice emerged as a breathy whisper laden with regret and longing. “Nick, if we don’t stop now, I... I won’t want to stop either, but you’re right. I’m not ready for more.”
Kate swallowed hard, her body aching for his touch even as she fought to maintain control, as Nick’s hardening desire pressed insistently against her. A shuddering gasp escaped her lips, her hips rocking into his before she could stop herself. The sensation of his thick, rigid length grinding into her sensitive core sent dizzying jolts of pleasure racing through her nerve endings, making her see stars. His hardness throbbed urgently through the layers of fabric between them, a silent entreaty to continue their passionate encounter, to finish what they’d started.
Kate hesitated a moment before confessing in a soft, breathy whisper. “I’d say I’m sorry, but I don’t think I am. You feel too good under me.” A blush spread across her cheeks as she admitted that, but she couldn’t bring herself to regret the truth.
Kate’s heart thudded so hard she felt it everywhere—her throat, her fingertips, the aching place low in her belly where his body pressed into hers. His nearness blurred the edges of everything else, left her dizzy and a little unmoored, floating in a sea of sensation she’d never navigated before.
Nick used his grip on her waist to grind her against him again, forcing her to feel what she did to him. “I’m not complaining,” he growled before pressing a quick, fierce kiss to her lips, promising more—so much more—if she’d let him.
“I’d better go now,” he murmured, voice rough with a hunger she emotionally wasn’t ready to meet, though her body screamed otherwise. “Before I don’t leave.”