Chapter 12 #3
His other hand came up to brush a strand of hair from my face, and my brain went offline. His thumb traced my bottom lip, and I forgot how to breathe. “Should I be concerned about why you’re really here?”
“No! I mean…” I mean, I was trying to set you up with someone else but instead I’m trapped in here with you and your stupidly perfect face and those hands and oh God, why do you smell so good?
My phone buzzed again. Probably more cheerleading from my inadvertent romantic support squad.
“Jason…” It was supposed to be a warning, but it came out more like a plea. “We shouldn’t…”
“Why not?” His lips were so close I could feel his breath on mine. “Isn’t this what you wanted?”
No. Yes. Maybe. Help.
“I…” But then his mouth was on mine, and every rational thought about plots and plans and proper romance novel structure evaporated like morning dew under blazing skies.
This kiss was different from last night’s—slower, deeper, more deliberate.
His tongue traced the seam of my lips and I opened for him with a whimper that would have embarrassed me if I had any brain cells left to care.
My arms wound around his neck of their own accord, fingers diving into his hair as his hands settled on my hips, pulling me closer.
He tasted like coffee and desire and something uniquely Jason that made my head spin. When he groaned into my mouth, the sound vibrating through me, my legs actually gave out. But he just pressed me harder against the wall, one thigh sliding between mine in a way that made me see stars.
My phone kept buzzing frantically in my pocket—probably the elevator love squad live-texting what they imagined was my successful romantic scheme. If they only knew their relationship genius was currently destroying her own matchmaking plans with every sweep of Jason’s tongue.
Oh God. Oh no. Oh YES. Oh NO.
This was not the plan. This was the complete opposite of the plan.
This was the plan taking a wrong turn, driving off a cliff, and exploding in a fireball of really, really good kisses.
Sophia was supposed to be here, creating her own romantic elevator moment.
Instead, I was the one melting into Jason’s arms like chocolate in a heat wave.
But as Jason’s mouth moved to my neck, finding that spot that made my whole body shudder, I couldn’t remember why that was a bad thing. His teeth grazed my pulse point, and I made a sound that definitely wasn’t in Victoria’s proper society lady repertoire.
“God, the sounds you make,” he murmured against my skin, and I shivered. “Do you have any idea what you do to me?”
Probably about as much as you’re doing to me, which is completely destroying my ability to think straight.
The elevator jerked back to life, but neither of us noticed. Or maybe we noticed and just didn’t care. Jason’s mouth was still doing sinful things to my neck, and my brain had basically hung up a “Gone fishing, back never” sign.
“We should probably…” I started to say, but then he nipped that spot just below my ear and whatever responsible thought I was about to have dissolved like sugar in hot coffee.
His eyes met mine, dark and intense and full of promises that made my toes curl. We really should stop. We really, really should?—
I grabbed his tie and pulled his mouth back to mine.
Bad Zoe. Very bad Zoe.
But then his tongue swept against mine and I decided being bad was severely underrated. His hands tightened on my hips as I arched into him, and somewhere in the tiny part of my brain that was still functioning, I registered that we were definitely not following the plot anymore.
The original Victoria would be horrified. The elevator squad was probably having collective heart attacks of joy. And Sophia… well, Sophia was supposed to be the one in here, but…
Jason growled something against my mouth that sounded suspiciously like “mine,” and suddenly I couldn’t remember who Sophia was or why I should care.
It wasn’t until we heard the collective gasp and what sounded suspiciously like someone dropping their phone that we realized the doors had opened.
A small crowd of “concerned” employees stood there, expressions ranging from shocked to delighted. Madison was practically vibrating with excitement. Barb looked like she was trying very hard not to smirk. And was that Mike the maintenance guy giving me a thumbs-up from behind a potted plant?
My phone started buzzing like a hive of very excited bees.
Claire: OH. MY. GOD. ??????
Madison: THAT WAS BETTER THAN ANY ROM-COM EVER! ??
Lucy: I’M DECEASED! ????
Mike: Tech Wizard’s magic works TOO well! ??
Jason, the infuriating man, just straightened his tie with that devastating half smile, looking far too pleased with himself. His hair was a mess from my fingers, his lips swollen from our kisses, and he had the audacity to wink at me.
Actually wink. In front of everyone.
I fled like my designer heels were on fire, my face burning hotter than a summer sidewalk. Behind me, I heard someone whisper, “Best elevator maintenance ever.”
I was never going to live this down. Ever.