Chapter 8 #2
Her pulse skittered. “Thank God.”
Vander moved, sliding her up to sit on the couch.
“The guest bathroom is through there.” He pointed to a doorway. “I’ll make you some coffee.”
He rose, and she realized that he was avoiding her. She should be insulted, but she got the distinct impression he was fighting to keep his distance.
“Thanks.”
In the bathroom—which she hadn’t paid much attention to the night before—she took in the modern and masculine décor of slate gray with touches of warm wood.
She found a spare toothbrush in the cabinet.
She washed her face, brushed her teeth, then finger combed her hair and tied it up.
She’d have to borrow Vander’s T-shirt since she had zero desire to put her blood-stained tank top back on.
When she headed back out, he was in the kitchen. It was at the end of the long, large space, separated from the living area by a large dining table. The kitchen was kickass, with a large, black-marble island and fancy appliances.
Still, the huge terrace was the best part of his place, though.
She wondered what his bedroom looked like.
Dangerous thoughts, but Brynn had already decided. She wanted Vander Norcross, and she knew he wanted her, but was holding himself back.
Yesterday proved—in stark black-and-white—that life could be terrifyingly short. She’d first learned that as a young girl, being told her father, her hero, was never coming home.
Sometimes, you had to grab life by the horns.
She’d prefer to regret trying, than regret never taking a chance.
The scent of coffee filled the air. Yum . “God, caffeine.”
He’d changed while she was in the bathroom and was wearing jeans, and a black T-shirt that molded over his muscular chest. And Lord help her, his feet were bare. She bit back a whimper.
He poured coffee into a mug. “Cream, two sugars.”
Exactly how she liked it. “You’re good.”
“I am a private investigator.”
She looked at the mug but didn’t reach for it. She walked around the island until their bodies pressed together.
Yep, as expected, he went stiff.
“And you should be very aware that I’m attracted to you,” she said.
“Brynn—”
She slid her hands up his chest. “And you’re attracted to me.”
“When I want a woman, I go after her, not the other way around. We are not doing this.”
Ooh, she guessed that cool, disinterested tone was supposed to leave her bleeding.
But she felt the coiled tension in that fine, fine body of his. Felt that his heart was beating a little faster.
Because of her.
She slid one hand down to splay on his hard belly. So, so hard. She tilted her head back and met his turbulent, dark eyes.
They stared at each other.
“Damn you, Brynn.” He set the mug down with a click, grabbed her, and lifted her.
She gasped and found herself seated on the cool stone of the island.
He shoved her legs apart, stepped between them and pulled her close. Their bodies were flush. Then his hungry mouth was on hers.
Yes . Everything in her came to life, electric and hot.
She wrapped her legs around his lean hips and kissed him back. He was hard and heavy against her. His kiss was raw and demanding.
She rubbed against him and felt his hard cock between her legs. She moaned into his mouth.
He deepened the kiss, tongue sliding against hers.
Oh, boy, she was a goner. The man could kiss .
He slid a hand under her borrowed shirt and touched her skin. She jerked and pulled him closer.
She was aware of everything: the feel of his body, his scent, his taste, the hard press of his fingers on her skin.
She wasn’t thinking of who he was, or his reputation, she was only thinking of the hot man driving her out of her mind.
His mouth left hers, cruising along her jaw. “The first moment I saw you in Hunt’s office…”
Her belly clenched twice as tight. “The first moment I laid eyes on that hard body of yours.”
His mouth took hers again. It wasn’t gentle, not a seduction. It was a full-on conquest. Luckily, she was happy to be conquered.
“ Vander .” She writhed against him.
There was a hollow gnawing ache inside her.
“God, I think I could come just from your kisses,” she panted.
The muscles in his arms tensed, and suddenly, he pulled back.
Brynn almost cried out. She watched his face shut down.
Damn . The warm feeling in her belly fizzed away.
“Was it me saying your name, or the bit about me coming?” she asked.
Vander dragged in a deep breath. “This isn’t going any further.”
“You keep saying that, but then you keep kissing me.” And rushing to my side, taking care of me.
A muscle ticked in his jaw and his fingers flexed on her.
Brynn smiled. “You want me so badly you can’t think straight.”
He looked at the ceiling. “Christ, you really are trouble.”
She stroked the hard line of his jaw. “I think you could do with a little trouble in your life.”
Suddenly, he froze and his head jerked up. He looked past her, and she heard a sound. She looked over her shoulder.
A small crowd was staring at them, including Rhys, Easton, and Gia Norcross, Saxon Buchanan, Ace Oliveira, and women that Brynn assumed were partners of the men.
There was a pretty brunette with big eyes, a grinning blonde, and a striking, pregnant woman with short, dark hair.
But it was Gia Norcross—small and curvy—who stepped forward. “Well, well. You’d better introduce us, Vander.”
Brynn shifted to get off the counter.
Vander gripped her. “Don’t you dare move.” He kept her pinned, and she registered the very hard bulge in his jeans. She’d been happily grinding against it. Oops.
Right . She glanced back at the crowd and waved. “Hi.”
Vander growled.