Chapter Fourteen #2
“I don’t usually wear them, since running shoes are a job requirement, but I think I’ll make it.” Amusement coated her words. “Although, if I don’t, you’d carry me, right?”
He knew she was joking, but the idea of holding her close, having her body pressed against his, sent a bolt electricity straight to his cock.
Good thing the hotel was close. As it was, he wasn’t sure he could last even that long.
“Wildcat, I would carry you anywhere you wanted to go.” He lifted their joined hands again and pressed another kiss to the back of hers.
She gave him another of those sweet smiles. A weird feeling wobbled around in his gut. One he didn’t want to dissect. At least not at this moment.
“Let’s go.” He started walking in the direction of the hotel, her hand still firmly held in his. The night was cold, but clear. He breathed deep, letting the crisp air wash through him.
They walked in silence, but it wasn’t awkward.
It was… nice. Although it was chilly, a lot of people were out and about.
He and Alex dodged and ducked around folks, never letting go of each other.
The closer they got to the hotel, the greater the energy crackling between them. It was invigorating. Exciting.
They rounded the corner, the hotel now in sight. He picked up the pace. She laughed, meeting him stride for stride. By the time they reached the door to the hotel, they were both pretty much power walking.
The doorman pulled the door open for them and gave a nod. They spilled into the lobby, still holding hands, laughing. Whether it was at their eagerness, or the glances from the other guests in the lobby, that had tickled them in the moment, he didn’t know. And he didn’t really care.
His focus was on her, and only her.
Her cheeks were pink, her eyes sparkling.
Unable to resist, he leaned down and brushed his lips against hers.
It was a sweet, quick kiss—public displays of affection weren’t really his thing, especially considering a lot of times that crap ended up getting tossed around online.
Well, at least on the New England sites.
But here, in Seattle, every one of his moves weren’t being scrutinized. Here, he wasn’t Nicholas Sadler, the professional hockey player, the would-be franchise savior, the huge disappointment. Here, tonight, he was just Nick. And she was just Alex.
And they were going to be together, enjoy each other, and make love.
And he was absolutely not going to dwell on the fact he’d just used the phrase make love. Dissecting that was a future Nick problem.
“Do you want to get a night cap? The hotel bar is just around the corner.” He grabbed her other hand, so he was holding both. He needed to touch her.
She gave him that sweet, shy smile, the one he felt all the way to his bone marrow, and shook her head. “No, I want to go up to your room and get out of these shoes.”
He raised an eyebrow, but felt the corner of his mouth lift in a half smile. “Do I need to carry you?”
She laughed, the sound bright and airy. His gut tightened. “No,” she said, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “I think I can make it.”
“Let’s not risk it.” He scooped her up, cradling her against his chest.
She stiffened for a second and then laughed again, melting against him. His cock decided it liked the sound. A lot. She wrapped her arms around his neck, wiggled her feet.
The scent of coconut hit him. He closed his eyes and buried his face in her hair. He’d never be able to smell it again without thinking of her.
Without thinking about this night.
He strode over to the bank of elevators, but quickly realized pushing the button was going to be a bit of a problem. But putting her down was out of the question.
As if reading his thoughts, she reached out and pressed the button. “Here, let me.”
The elevator door whooshed open. It was almost as if it had been waiting of them. He took that as a sign the universe approved.
Thankfully, there was no one else in the elevator. He stepped inside and turned around. She reached out and pressed the close door button. A woman after his own heart.
He whispered the floor number in her ear, nuzzling against her.
She tilted her head, giving him better access and pushed the button for his floor.
Goosebumps sprouted along her skin. He wanted to chase them with his lips, his teeth, his tongue.
She made a little, almost mewling, noise in the back of her throat.
He pulled away from her—which was one of the hardest things he’d ever had to do—and watched the numbers flash above their heads, silently praying to whoever was listening that no one delayed their trip up to the twenty-fifth floor.
“You know,” she said, sifting her fingers through his hair. Electricity skittered down spine. He fought the shiver lingering just beneath his skin. “You can put me down. I am perfectly capable of making it on my own.”
He shook his head. “Sorry, it’s a risk we just can’t take.” His voice came out all low and husky. He brushed his thumb against the silky fabric of her dress on the back of her thigh.
She sucked in a shaky breath, so he did it again. This time, she made another mewling sound in the back of her throat. It went straight to his cock.
The elevator dinged and the doors opened. He strode out, turning left toward his room. No one else was in the hallway. He stopped in front of his room door and frowned.
Getting the door open with her in his arms was never going to work. The key card was in his wallet, which was in his pants pocket. And while he would love nothing more than for her to root around in his jeans, it just wasn’t practical.
Reluctantly, he lowered her to her feet.
She leaned her shoulder against the wall and stared up at him through her lashes. Fuck, she was gorgeous.
He fumbled his wallet out of his pants and the card into the slot. Why were his hands so shaky? He pushed the door open and held it with his arm, indicating she should enter with a sweep of his arm.
She slipped inside the room, brushing against him on the way. There was no doubt it was intentional. The tease.
He stepped into the room behind her. She’d stopped just inside the door. The door whooshed shut behind him. He was about to ask what was wrong, when she spun around and gave him a push. His back hit the door.
And then she was kissing him.
Hard and desperate.
Her lips moved over his, her tongue brushing against his lips, seeking entrance. He grabbed her hips, opened his mouth. Her tongue swept inside, demanding and hot. She tasted like cool, clean peppermint and sweet, sexy woman. The combination was intoxicating, addictive.
He slid his tongue against hers, tasting and teasing. She moaned, the sound bouncing through him, sending his cock to rapt attention.
She pulled away from his lips. He actually fucking whimpered. She laughed, and trailed hot, wet kisses across his jaw and down his throat. He tilted his head back to give her more room. Closed his eyes. Lifted his hands, spearing his fingers through her soft, silky hair, holding her close.
She ran her fingers up the front of his shirt and over his shoulders, pushing his coat off. He let her go, his coat slipping to the ground. He kicked it aside.
But he needed to kiss her again.
He bent his head and captured her lips, pouring all his desperation, his need, into the kiss.
She kissed him back, the need from her just as strong.
He slid his hands up her arms. The wool of her coat was scratchy against his palms. He slipped it off her shoulders.
She shook her arms, never stopping the kiss. Her coat tumbled to the ground.
She stepped forward, pressing herself against him, sandwiching him between her soft, sexy body and the cold, hard door. The contrast was heady. He shivered.
Placing his hands on her hips, the silky fabric of her dress quickly heated under his palms. She moaned, kissed him harder.
He slipped his hands around to her ass, pulling her flush against him.
With her heels on, she was the perfect height.
Not that she didn’t fit perfectly against him all the time.
His hard cock pressed against her. She gasped and pulled away from his lips.
They stood there, in each other’s space, breathing hard. Her eyes had darkened, her pupils gobbling up the grey. She swiped her tongue over her lower lip. He groaned, missing the taste of her already.
The smooth silky fabric of her dress made it easy to slide his hands over her ass, grab a handful. She rocked her hips against his straining erection.
Unable to stand it any longer, he hiked her up, lifting her off her feet. She gasped again, and wrapped her arms around his neck, but didn’t demand her put her down. Good stuff.
He walked over to the bed, thanking his past self for leaving the bedside lamp on in his rush to leave this afternoon, and set her on her feet.
She grabbed the hem of his sweater. He lifted his arms and let her take it off. She frowned at the dress shirt he wore underneath. He chuckled. How she could have missed the collar while she was kissing his neck, he didn’t know. But she was mightily offended by it now, that was for sure.
“You are so beautiful.” His voice was low and husky, barely more than a whisper.
She gave him that shy smile. The top of her chest and her cheeks turned that delicious shade of pink he loved so much. It was the same color as her nipples, which were hard and straining against her dress. His mouth watered for another taste.
“You’re beautiful, too.” She cupped his cheek. He leaned in, reveling at the feel of her soft skin against him. Although it was an innocent, and usually inconsequential touch, this felt like something substantial and important.
Not wanting to delve into that thought too deeply, he turned his head and pressed a kiss to the inside of her wrist. Her skin tasted sweet and salty. Perfect.