Gideon appeared at Daniel’s shoulder. “The ful experience is included,” he said, coming around and behind me to slide his arms around my waist, “when you’re the owner’s girlfriend.”
The word “girlfriend” reverberated through me, sending a crazy rush of adrenaline through my system.
It was stil sinking in that we had that level of commitment, but that didn’t stop me from thinking the designation had a nice ring to it.
“Mr. Cross.” Daniel straightened and took a step back; then extended his hand. “It’s an honor to meet you.”
“Daniel has me sold on the place,” I said to Gideon, as they shook hands.
“I thought I’d done that.” His hair was wet with sweat and he smel ed divine. I’d never known a sweaty man could smel so damn good.
His hands stroked down my arms and I felt his lips on the crown of my head. “Let’s go. See you later, Daniel.”
I waved good-bye as we walked away. “Thanks, Daniel.”
“Anytime.”
“I bet,” Gideon muttered. “He couldn’t keep his eyes off your tits.”
“They’re very nice tits.”
He made a low growling noise. I hid my amusement.
He smacked my butt hard enough to send me forward a step and leave behind a hot sting even through my pants. “That damned Band-Aid you cal a shirt doesn’t leave much to the imagination. Don’t take long in the shower. You’re just going to get sweaty again.”
“Wait.” I caught his arm before he passed the women’s locker room on the way toward the men’s.
“Would it gross you out if I told you I didn’t want you to shower? If I said I want to find someplace real y close by where I could jump you while you’re stil dripping sweat?”
Gideon’s jaw tightened and his gaze darkened dangerously. “I’m beginning to fear for your safety, Eva.
Grab your stuff. There’s a hotel around the corner.” Neither of us changed and we were outside in five minutes. Gideon walked briskly and I hurried to keep up. When he stopped abruptly, turned, and dipped me back in a lavish heated kiss on the crowded sidewalk, I was too stunned to do more than hold on. It was a soul-wrenching melding of our mouths, ful of passion and sweet spontaneity that made my heart ache. Applause broke out around us.
When he straightened me again, I was breathless and dizzy. “What was that?” I gasped.
“A prelude.” He resumed our dash to the nearest hotel, one I didn’t catch the name of as he pul ed me past the doorman and crossed straight to the elevator.
It was clear to me that the property was one of Gideon’s even before a manager greeted him by name just before the elevator doors closed.
Gideon dropped his duffel on the car floor and busied himself with figuring out how to extricate me from my sports top. I was slapping his hands away when the doors opened and he scooped up his bag.
There was no one waiting on our floor and no one in the hal way. He pul ed a master key out of somewhere and a moment later we were in a room.
I pounced, pushing my hands up beneath his shirt to feel his damp skin and the hardness of the muscles beneath it. “Get naked. Like
Oh my God…seeing him in the flesh—al of him, as his shorts hit the floor—was synapse frying. There wasn’t an ounce of excess flesh on him anywhere, just hard slabs of honed muscle. He had washboard abs and that super sexy V of muscle on his pelvis that Cary cal ed the Loin of Apol o. Gideon didn’t wax his chest like Cary did, but he groomed with the same care he showed to the rest of his body. He was pure primal male, the embodiment of everything I coveted, fantasized about, and wished for.
“I’ve died and gone to heaven,” I said, staring unabashedly.
“You’re stil dressed.” He attacked my clothes, whipping my loosened top off before I took a ful breath. My pants were wrestled down and I kicked my shoes off in such a hurry that I lost my balance and fel on the bed. I barely caught my breath before he was on me.
We rol ed across the mattress in a tangle.
Everywhere he touched me left trails of fire behind. The clean, hardworking scent of his skin was an aphrodisiac and intoxicant at once, spurring my desire for him until I felt like I was about to lose my mind.
“You’re so beautiful, Eva.” He plumped one breast in his hand before taking my nipple into his mouth.
I cried out at the scorching heat and the lash of his tongue, my core tightening with every soft suck. My hands were greedy as they slid over his sweat-damp skin, stroking and kneading, searching for the spots that made him growl and moan. I scissored my legs with his and tried to rol him, but he was too heavy and too strong.
He lifted his head and smiled down at me. “It’s my turn this time.”
What I felt for him in that moment, seeing that smile and the heat in his eyes, was so intense it was painful.
Too fast, I thought. I was fal ing too fast. “Gideon—” He kissed me deeply, licking into my mouth in that way of his. I thought he could real y make me come with just a kiss, if we stayed at it long enough.
