Page 54 of Deep Tide

“But I don’t make the pastries. Or at least, not all of them. That’s Rogelio. I get up at four and try to get to the shop by four thirty.”

“Damn.”

They reached the bridge leading to his condo and crossed back over the dunes. She stopped beside the gate.

“One sec.” She dropped her shoes to the ground and rested her hand on his arm as she slid her feet back into her shoes. When she looked up again, he was still taller, but she was closer to eye level.

His gaze dropped to her lips, and anticipation rippled through her as he leaned down to kiss her.

His mouth was warm, and his hands slid around her waist as he pulled her against him. She went up on tiptoes, her heels coming out of her shoes as she reached up to glide her hands over his shoulders. His tongue tangled with hers and heat flooded through every part of her body. She pressed her breasts against him and combed her fingers into his hair as she pulled his head closer.

Damn, the man could kiss. And she should have known it. All that life experience coming through again. Everything about him seemed so capable, as though he’d taken the time to learn how to do things well.

She slid her fingertips over his jaw, feeling that rough stubble as his mouth explored hers. He knew what he was doing, setting off little tremors inside her with every stroke of his tongue. His palms slid over her butt, pulling her against him, and she rocked her hips.

“Leyla.” He trailed kisses along her throat, and she tipped her head back to let him. “Come upstairs.”

She kissed his mouth again. She didn’t want to talk just now. She wanted to feel his body pressed against hers and his hot, avid mouth as he kissed her deeply. He tilted her head to the side to get a better angle, and the kiss went on and on, getting more and more insistent. She nipped his bottom lip, and he made a low groan and pulled her in tighter, surrounding her with his heat.

He stepped back. “Come upstairs.”

Her heart clenched as she gazed up at him. She gave a tiny shake of her head.

She eased back, stumbling as she tried to get her foot back into her shoe, and he caught her arm to steady her.

“Sorry.” She pulled back and smoothed her blouse. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

He just looked at her, a combination of lust and confusion in his eyes, and she felt a twinge of regret.

“Sorry,” she repeated, stepping away.

He released her, gazing down at her as if to see what she would do next. She glanced around.

“Here, let’s...” She motioned toward the gate.

He took out his key card and opened the gate. Silently, they walked past the pool to the narrow sidewalk along the side of the building.

“I think I can cut through here,” she said.

He rested his hand lightly at her waist as he walked her down the shadowy path to the parking lot. He glanced around with those cop eyes, taking in their surroundings as he walked her to her car.

Emotions warred inside her. She wanted to go upstairs with him. And yet she didn’t. And she shouldn’t have kissed him like that if she didn’t know what she wanted. Although, she did know what she wanted—she just wasn’t going to let herself have it. She had more self-control than that.

She dug her keys from her purse and clicked her locks open.

“Thank you for the drink,” she said.

He looked down at her, his gaze still heated. He rested his hand on her shoulder, and she thought he might kiss her again. And she wasn’t sure if she could resist another onslaught. But instead he dropped a soft peck on her forehead.

“Text me when you get home.” He pulled the door open for her.

She slid behind the wheel and looked at him. “Why? I’ll be fine.”

“Humor me.”

CHAPTER

NINE

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