Even knowing the electric power of my body’s reaction to him, I hadn’t thought I would fall prey to a desire that practically glowed with heat. Yet, here I was. I knew my cheeks were flushed. The heat was intense, suffusing my entire being.
The only relief I could find from it was to dive straight into the heart of the fire. As these thoughts chased in circles in my mind, Walker’s eyes searched my face.
After a long moment, he asked, “When you said we only have two nights, what did you mean?”
Oh God. He was going to make me say it out loud. I hated the sense of vulnerability this desire kindled inside of me. Pushing against it helped me get a hold of my gooey self. I felt like I was about to melt into a puddle at his feet. With his arm wrapped around my waist, and his strong body pressed close to my side, all of it was overwhelming.
Narrowing my eyes, I scrambled for some control and told myself I wasn’t going to be a coward. “Just that. I won’t pretend I don’t want you, although it annoys the hell out of me. But we’re here, and we’re sharing a room, so let’s take advantage of the circumstances. Let’s not make it anything more than that.”
Walker was quiet for several thumps of my heart before a slow smile stretched from one corner of his mouth to the other. Oh hell. His smiles were dangerous. My belly felt all fluttery and my breath got shallow.
He looked as if he was considering something. I suddenly recalled his comment about my brother. Straightening my shoulders against the wall behind me, I lifted my chin. “Don’t you dare include my brother’s potential opinion in this equation. We’re two consenting adults, and this is none of his fucking business.”
Walker’s responding slow laugh sent a hot shiver through me. I shifted my weight on my feet. I knew things were bad when I could feel the slick heat between my thighs. We hadn’t even kissed yet, and I was already so turned on, there was a throb at my core.
“Obviously, I’m aware it’s not really any of his business. Just as I’m aware if your brother finds out, I’ll probably get his fist in my face.”
That infuriated me. There was only one person who had a say in what I did with my body. That person was me.
Driven by the tumultuous combination of the simmering desire that needed a relief valve and irritation at the knowledge my brother most likely would have an opinion if he knew anything about this, I hooked my index finger over the last closed button on Walker’s shirt. His skin was warm against my knuckle. There was no tie for me to yank off, since he’d divested himself of that hours ago, so this would have to do.
When I pulled him closer, Walker rested a hand on the wall, just beside my shoulder as the full heat and strength of his body covered mine from head to toe.
“I didn’t say that would stop me,” he murmured right before our lips collided.
As wild as I felt inside, our kiss burst into flames, rushing like a brush fire. Walker angled his head to the side as I arched into him, gasping when he fit his mouth over mine and swept his tongue inside. After a deep sweep of his tongue against mine, he drew back, gentling our kiss just as quickly. He dusted a kiss on one corner of my mouth and then the other, turning my insides to molten lava.
Electricity was zinging through my body so fast, I couldn’t contain it. My legs shifted and my hips rocked into the hard, hot press of Walker’s arousal, which was cradled at my hips. I whimpered when he brushed his lips across mine and teased my tongue with his again.
In another hot second, our kiss was all-consuming. Walker was a master at kissing, his hand sliding into my hair as he angled my head just so to most effectively plunder my mouth with sensual, maddening strokes of his tongue. By the time he pulled back again, lightly catching my bottom lip with his teeth, it was a good thing I had the wall behind me. Without it, I almost certainly would have collapsed.
While we stood there, I could feel the rapid beat of his heart where his chest was pressed against mine. My own heartbeat was totally out of control, and I had to gulp air with messy breaths. The sound of footsteps coming up the first flight of stairs below us barely filtered through the haze in my mind.
Walker gave his head a shake and straightened. “Let’s go.”
I’d never had this kind of experience where I didn’t want any physical distance between us. Whether Walker felt the same or not, he kept his arm around me as he guided me up the next flight of stairs. His hand slid lower on my waist, and his fingers splayed over the curve of my bottom. I savored every point of contact. His touch was like a brand on me. The brush of his hips against mine was warm with each step, and the curve of his shoulder sheltered me as we moved in unison.
I couldn’t tell you if we moved quickly or not. I was in a haze, an almost dream-like state, with every cell in my body vibrating with anticipation.
Just before we reached our room, someone said Walker’s name. I reflexively followed his gaze as he paused and angled back to look over his shoulder. Dave and Jenny stood there at the end of the hallway.
“Just wanted to say thanks, man,” Dave called. “Don’t forget what I said earlier.”
A grin stretched across Walker’s face. “Of course not. We’ll see you in the morning, right?”
“You sure will,” Jenny replied with a smile. At that, they waved and turned to step into what I
