Chapter 8 #2
“Nuh, uh.” She shook her head with a slow, knowing grin. “Tell the truth. After all, you did promise.”
“I am telling you the truth,” he growled.
And why was the rumbly sound such a freaking turn-on?
“You said you were listening from inside the van.” Alex continued covering the distance between them. “Could you see us, too?”
The quick lick of his lips and his skittering glance answered the question before he said a word.
“Yes,” Colt admitted. “I could see you. Agent Swensen and I had access to the restaurant’s security feed, and we were watching from inside the van.”
“Explains the timing of the call.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Sure you do.” Alex took another step forward. “Your partner called right after Gordan put his hand on mine.”
Son of a—
“She’s not my partner.”
“Don’t change the subject. You saw Gordan put his hand over mine, and you had Agent Swensen call with that horrible cover story so I’d leave. Not because it was imperative that you meet with him that very second, but because you wanted to be the one touching me, instead.”
It was a bold declaration, and one that may very well backfire in a huge, embarrassing way. But Alex didn’t think it would.
She’d seen the way Colt had looked at her earlier, when he’d first seen her in that red dress. His gaze had been filled with desire and heat.
“Admit it,” she challenged softly. “It bothered you to see the two of us in such a romantic setting.”
“Of course, it bothered me. You shouldn’t be anywhere near someone like that. It turned my stomach seeing the two of you together, talking and smiling and acting as if you were—”
“What? Attracted to each other? Careful, Colt. Your green side’s starting to show.”
A muscle in the side of his strong jaw bulged. “Don’t push me, Alex.” There was an almost indiscernible shake of his head. “Not with this. Not tonight.”
“Why not? What are you going to do?” Her lips curved into a taunting smirk. “I guess you could send me to my room. Oh, wait.” She glanced around. “I’m already here.”
“You need to drop this.” He took a step forward, putting himself inches from where she stood.
“Or what?”
Something flashed behind his intense stare. “I mean it, Alexandria. You don’t want to keep pushing.”
Lifting a palm to his chest, she ignored his rumbled order and gave him a tiny nudge. “Oops,” she teased, unable to keep herself from giving into the temptation.
Moving lightning fast, he reached up, wrapping his fingers around her wrist in a gentle but firm hold. As he did, he wrapped his other arm around her waist and pulled her body flush with his.
“You’re playing with fire, sweetheart. Careful you don’t get burned.”
“I’m not afraid of you, Cole.”
Another deep growl reverberated from inside his chest, the blues in his eyes darkening as he stared deep into hers. “What’s my name?”
The air in her lungs hitched, her heart pounding exponentially harder as she became lost in his molten gaze. For a moment, Alex couldn’t seem to utter a single sound. When she remained quiet, Colt gave the order again.
“Say it, Alex.” His unwavering stare held her captive. “I want to hear you say my real name.”
“Coulter,” she whispered, belatedly obeying his low command.
But he shook his head side-to-side slowly. “The whole thing, Alexandria.”
Her pulse raced, and her sex filled with an unprecedented need. This was stupid. So very, very stupid.
This was Colt. Garrett’s brother. Avery’s brother-in-law. They couldn’t do this. She couldn’t do this.
Not with . . . him.
The whole thing, Alexandria.
“Coulter James Morgan.” His full name escaped as a breathy whisper.
Fire lit the primal need reflecting in his electric blue gaze. He smiled as desire flooded her core. Alex’s mouth became desert dry.
“Colt, what are you—”
“I just needed to be sure.”
“Of what?” Alex found herself struggling to breathe.
“I needed to be sure you knew who was holding you close. That these are my arms.” His fingertips pressed harder against her lower back. “And I had to know there’s no question in that beautiful mind of yours that these lips belong to me.”
“I know who you are.”
Are you sure about that?
His Adam’s apple bobbed with an audible swallow. “This is your chance, Alex.”
“My chance?”
“To tell me to walk away.”
Her heart kicked hard against her ribs for the umpteenth time. “What if I don’t want you to walk away?”
She probably should. Letting him leave would be the smartest choice for them both.
“I’m serious, Alex. You should tell me to get the hell out now, before it’s too late.”
She didn’t say the words but gave a slow shake of her head. His gaze darkened, his pupils expanded, and he held her even closer than before.
Despite the robe’s plush thickness, it was impossible to miss the impressive bulge pressing against her lower belly. A rush of electric desire raced deep into her aching core.
“You need to be sure, sweetheart,” Colt gave another hushed warning.
“I’m sure.” She cleared the dryness from her throat. “I think we should get this out of our systems once and for all. Don’t you?”
“So that’s what this is? A one-time thing?”
Alex nodded despite her subconscious telling her she wanted so much more. “No strings. No commitment. And no one else—”
“Ever has to know.”
He was right. They were alone, in a hotel room thousands of miles from Charlotte. If ever the opportunity were going to present itself, it was now.
There’s no one else here. It’s just the two of us. No one back home will ever know.
“Don’t leave, Coulter,” Alex whispered a final time. “Please. I want you to stay.”