Page 25 of Prognosis Temporary

‘Fine.’

Except she wasn’t. She was...frustrated. She’d spent two months on a relatively even keel after a wonky start with Sebastian and now they’d left home turf her body had taken leave of its senses! Outside Jambalyn it was like he’d lost his ‘off-limits’ force field and she was being dragged into his gravitational pull again.

Along with every other woman in his vicinity.

‘You don’t look fine.’

The lift dinged and Callie almost sagged against the wall in relief to not have to continue this conversation. ‘Saved by the bell,’ he murmured as she strode out ahead of him.

Callie’s heels sank into the luxurious carpet, muffling any sound as she quickly located her room conscious of Sebastian following at a more leisurely pace. Preferring not to be reminded that for the next three nights only the width of a hallway and two doors would be separating them, she turned her back on his door and entered her key-card hoping to be in her room by the time he finally arrived.

Alas, it was not to be, Callie’s card choosing that moment to be recalcitrant. She cursed it under her breath as she jammed it repeatedly in and out, watching desperately for the little green light. It didn’t grace her with its presence although Sebastian did.

He stepped in, his front close to, but not touching, her back as he placed his hand over hers. ‘Allow me.’

Callie wanted to object but the touch of his hand, his clean male smell and the sheer utter breadth of him wrapped her in sticky tentacles. She bit her lip to stop herself from whimpering.

‘Bloody things,’ she said with an unsteady voice. ‘I always get the dodgy ones.’

He chuckled. ‘It’s easy when you know how,’ he murmured. ‘You just have to be patient. Gentle. Slide it in slowly...’

Callie watched mesmerised as he held her hand fast on the card and inched the thin piece of plastic into the slot. Her stomach clenched.

‘Now, wait for a second.’

His breath was warm on her neck and goose bumps prickled along her scalp as the lock clicked and whirred and the little green light flashed.

‘And then slide it slowly out.’

He pushed down on the handle and the door gave a little but neither of them noticed, caught up in their little cocoon. Callie felt as if she was sinking in quicksand and couldn’t break away. This was crazy. She had to do something. Push open the door. Move. Say something.

Establish some boundaries.

She swallowed. ‘I’m not going to sleep with you while we’re here.’

He chuckled and it was low and hot, ruffling the hair near Callie’s ear. ‘I was under no illusion that you would.’

Good. But it worth repeating. She turned so he could see her face, she how serious she was and man...was that a mistake.

She didn’t realise how close they were.

Her pulse tripped as her gaze drifted from the base of his throat to his mouth lingering for much longer than it should have before she remembered why she’d turned in the first place and what she needed to say.

‘Just because I’m across the hall from you does not mean I’m...available.’

He didn’t say anything for long moments, his gaze searching hers before dropping to her mouth and back again. ‘You’re doing it again, Callie,’ Sebastian murmured. ‘Telling me one thing with your mouth - ’ He lifted a hand and rubbed his thumb along her bottom lip ‘And another thing with your eyes.’

Callie clamped down on the whimper that rose in her throat and dropped her eyelids, shuttering the heat she couldn’t disguise. Her eyeballs felt like they were burning two holes in her head.

He dropped his hand and she opened them again in time to see him dragging his gaze from her mouth. ‘I’m not going to play games with you, Callie. We’re both adults here.’ He pushed her door open behind her and stepped back. ‘I’m just over there.’ He inclined his head at his door. ‘If you change your mind, just knock.’

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Callie was damned ifshe was going to sit around in her hotel room all afternoon until the black-tie fundraiser this evening, replaying Sebastian’s scintillating challenge over and over. She was in Melbourne, for goodness’ sake.

She loved Melbourne!

The Langham was situated along the renowned Southbank Promenade overlooking the tranquil Yarra River. Right outside the hotel’s doors waited a fabulous world of shopping, boutiques and alfresco cafés. She could walk and shop and drink coffee and just enjoy being anonymous in a big vibrant city.

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