She swallowed, her insides turning to putty. A wayward lock fell over his eyes. She linked her fingers together, resisting the pull to brush it from his forehead.
Cat suppressed a shiver of longing and let out a heavy breath. It formed a cloud in the cool air. She waved a dismissive hand and dodged the question. “I think she’s been studying too hard. Just ignore her.” Nodding to the parking lot, she brought their conversation back to the night ahead. “My car or yours?”
Sam fished his keys out of his coat. The enticing scent of leather reached her nostrils. What was it about a man in leather that made her hotter than suicide salsa? Well, not just any man. This man.
“I’ll drive.” Strong arms circled her shoulders and pulled her in tight, tight enough that every inch of his sculpted body touched hers. Warmth spread over her skin. Lord, it felt so good when he touched her and held her in such a protective manner. Growing up in a houseful of guys, Cat had fought for her independence. Most men made her feel smothered, yet around Sam she didn’t experience any of those unpleasant feelings at all.
He slanted his head and offered her one of his incredible smiles. Cat felt her body grow moist and her knees turn to pudding. A sudden breeze rushed through the parking lot and ruffled his hair. The light wind drifted over her warm face and helped ease the heat inside her.
Shrouded in darkness, she hurried her footsteps to keep pace as they crossed the unlit parking lot. Her “fuck-me-shoes” tapped a steady rhythm and cut through the silence enveloping them. So far, so good. She hadn’t fallen and broken her ass, or any other vital parts. Fortunately, the rain had subsided, leaving a fresh autumn scent in the breezy evening air and the ground nice and dry for walking in heels.
Sam opened the passenger side door for her. She stepped away from the circle of his arms and immediately missed his touch. She made herself comfortable in his sporty Jeep as he climbed behind the wheel and maneuvered them out of the parking lot.
“Sam?” She may have appeared calm on the outside but their close proximity rattled her more than dice in a Yahtzee cup. Chaos erupted inside her as a tremor of awareness made her quiver in the most interesting places.
“Hmmm?”
She wrinkled her nose. “Are you going to hook me up to electrodes?”
He grinned and shook his head. “No need to.”
“Oh.” Folding her hands on her lap, she nodded and focused on the dark road ahead. Out of her peripheral vision, she caught him staring at her.
“You sound disappointed.”
She faced him. “No, it’s not that. I’m just wondering how you’re going to record my responses to your,” she swallowed before completing the sentence, “stimuli.”
Sam’s bad-boy grin turned wicked. “Trust me, Cat. Tomorrow night after we enhance your sensitivity, you’ll be able to feel the different responses in your body.” He leaned closer, until his mouth was only a tongue flick away from hers. “And so will I.”
Oh yeah, he had every intention of feeling her responses because the minute he got her alone in the research room he planned on sliding his hands over every delicious speck of her sweet-scented bare skin. He’d waited far too long as it was.
Twenty minutes later, he pulled his Jeep into his assigned parking spot and glanced at her profile, soaking in her beauty. He was so aware of her, her every breath, her every movement. Watching her for the past six months had left him feeling as though he’d known her for a lifetime when, in fact, he didn’t really know her very well at all. Tonight that was about to change. They were going to get to know each other. Intimately.
His eyes caressed her face. Long blonde curls framed her high cheekbones and billowed over slender shoulders. A dark curtain of thick black lashes flickered over her green eyes. Sam shifted in his seat, giving her his full attention. Hands folded she stared straight ahead, her expression unreadable. He couldn’t tell whether nervousness or excitement stirred her soul. He hoped for the latter.
He raised an inquisitive brow. “You sure you want to do this?”
She turned to face him. Her head nodded, repeatedly. “Yes. Of course.”
Sam let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. When Cat moistened her lips, it took every ounce of control he possessed not to brush his own tongue over her mouth, to feel if her lips were as lethally soft as they looked. He ached to taste her, to take pleasure in her plump mouth moving under his. God, he wanted her. Inside out, upside down, but mostly underneath.
Hell, it was all he’d been able to think about for the last few months. He clenched his jaw, scrubbed a hand over his chin, and drew a breath. Later, he promised himself. Later.
“What’s the game plan?” she asked. Her voice sounded tight.
“Once we get inside, I’ll test your responses to stimuli, without the serum.” His cock throbbed in anticipation. Down boy! Fuck, he needed to get control of himself. What was it about her that had his dick in a constant state of flux?
His glance flickered over her knee-length coat. His imagination kicked into high gear as he visualized himself ridding her body of the unnecessary barrier of clothes that separated skin from skin.
Green eyes came alive with curiosity. Her chest heaved, drawing his attention downward. “How exactly do you plan on doing that?”
He guessed that question had been on her inquisitive mind all day. He pitched his voice low and sidled closer. “First, I’ll have to remove your clothes.” He reached out and touched her coat. With slow, sinuous movements, he fingered the soft
