Dylan closes the door and pushes my back against it. He places a hand against the wall above my head and the other slides to the back of my neck. “I’m sorry you had to ask.”
He slants his mouth onto mine in a frantic, hungry kiss.
Chapter Eighteen
Boom Boom Boom
Dylan
Emerson’s tongue darts into my mouth and I stroke it with my own and taste her sweetness.
Our kiss is filled with desperation and lust. Her fevered response fills my soul with something I’ve been missing. It’s more than two bodies creating some chemical reaction. I want her so badly, so completely, that I confuse myself when I pull my lips from hers to put a damper on the fire we’re creating.
The hotel room is quiet except for the sounds of our breathing, which seem overly loud.
Her head falls back against the foyer wall. “Hi.”
“Is everything all right?” My words are loaded. I place my hands on both sides of her face and lean my forehead against hers, closing my eyes and inhaling her scent. Something must be bothering her.
It’s in the way she kisses like she’s grabbing hold of me and is afraid to let go.
I move back to look at her. She studies me for a moment and then moves away to examine the dimly lit room. She nods but doesn’t speak. I lace my fingers through hers and pull her inside.
“Nice,” she says, slowing to glance inside the bathroom. “I’ve never been here.”
The room is okay, but I could be in a pay-by-the-hour dive with her and not notice my surroundings.
“You’re always my Gorgeous Girl.” If I’d said this to any other girl, I’d feel like it was a line. It’s funny how natural it is to tell her this.
She gives me a shy smile. “You do have a way with words, Mr. Mercado.”
“Want something to drink?” I motion to the chilled bottle of wine on the dresser.
“No. I came here to talk.” She stands awkwardly at the edge of the bed.
“Oh yeah?” I take a step and close the distance between us. “I’ve wanted to talk to you.”
“What about?” she asks, eyes wide.
I sweep hair from her eyes with one hand, and then trace her bottom lip with my thumb. “Not wasting time. That’s one thing I did with Kate. I thought I’d have plenty of moments like this. That’d we’d be together forever. But you never know what will happen and you have to stop assuming that life will give you everything you want.”
“Dylan.” She presses a hand to my chest. “I came here because I wanted to tell you how much you mean to me. You’re a great guy and Lord knows you’re sexy. And—”
I undo the top button of my shirt.
“And...” Her gaze flicks from the movement of my fingers and up to my eyes.
The corner of my mouth tips in a slow smile. I undo a second and third button, watching her lips part, sensing her body’s sway toward mine.
“And?” I ask. I deftly undo the last buttons and shrug out of my shirt. I take a step forward and our bodies touch, a whisper of my skin against her clothing.
“I can’t think while you’re this close.” She closes her eyes and her eyebrows lower. “You smell so incredible.” Her eyelids flutter open and her heavy-lidded gaze meets mine.
I caress her shoulders and allow my hands to move over the sleeves of her black top and down to her waist. I’m operating on instinct now. I’d thought we might talk for a while first, but to hell with that. We can talk later.
Now that the decision is clear in my mind, I pull the bottom of her shirt up and over. She’s wearing a silky tank, the outline of pebbled nipples straining against fabric. Emerson moves one hand to touch the skin in the center of my chest.
She drags her hand down, down, down my chest to stop at my stomach and I can’t remember the last time I was so turned on by a simple touch.
“Gorgeous Girl? I need to feel your skin. Okay?”
Emerson licks her lips.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” I chuckle, pleased that she may be as speechless as she makes me. It takes only a quick tug to peel the tank from her body and reveal a sheer black bra.
“Ah hell.” I lower my head to one breast and trace the hard peak of one nipple with my tongue. The material is slick and soft, barely a barrier at all.
It’s not enough. I place my lips over her nipple in a gentle kiss and then suck it through the cloth.
She makes that low, guttural sound in the back of her throat that could be the end-all for me. I need to slow the ride. For both our sakes. I restrain myself for the moment by tugging on the button of her jeans.
Emerson obliges by removing my hands from their unsteady task and unbuttoning them. She pushes the jeans down over her hips and I take the material the rest of the way down.
I’m kneeling, staring at sheer panties that match the bra. Her thighs are smooth and tan and call for me to worship them, preferably with my tongue.
I push her gently against the bed. Her knees buckle and she sits on the edge, hands braced on each side of her body so she won’t fall back.
Her skin is hot under my touch as my fingers touch her knees and pull them apart.
“What are you doing?” she asks, panting and breathy. “Well, I know what it looks like...”
I raise a brow and lick my lips. “I’ve been waiting to do this all day long. Quit sassing me for once, baby.”
Instead of lying back or arguing as she’s so prone to do, she leans forward and kisses me. Her tongue flicks into my mouth in a rush of excitement. Her fingers thread through my hair to clasp the back of my head. Her mouth makes that sound synonymous with sin.
Emerson lifts her head. Her blue eyes are dark and turbulent, midnight dark on a stormy ocean. “I’m not arguing.”
“Good girl.” And with that, I get on with the business of making tonight one she will never forget.
The sound of my cell alarm filters into my dream. In my dream, Emerson is holding a sign saying ‘Round 1’ as she walks my sales floor in a bikini. There’s also an elderly man and his wife waving money at Emerson. Emerson winks at the old guy but keeps strolling around the floor with the sign.
I’m close to strangling my sales staff for ogling her when the beeping noise distracts me. I crack open one grateful eye and pick up the cell.
Five a.m.
I heave a blissful sigh and stretch my arms above my head. Finances and sales meetings can wait. The new shipment check-in can wait. Emerson cannot.
Her dark hair spreads out on the pillow next to me.
I’m not a spooner, but I know today is meant for new habits. I roll closer to the center of the bed where she lies and watch her sleep for a moment.
She opens her eyes. “Good morning.”
“Yes, it sure is.” I place a light kiss on her nose.
“What time is it?” She drapes a hand over her eyes.
I frown. “Does it matter? Classes don’t start this early.”
She removes her hand and reveals her troubled expression. “I know, but Gabby may need a ride or something. She doesn’t know where I am. She’ll be worried.”
“Call Gabby and tell her you’re with me. She won’t ground you.”