Page 23 of Rush

She didn’t think he was upset that she took Sophie to the pool, but maybe. “You got my note, right? Saying where we were.” When he only answered with a brusque nod, she pressed, “Are you mad at me?”

He glanced down at her, his expression morphing before her eyes, going from all hard edges to something softer. “No.”

Her brow puckered. “But youaremad?”

“But not at you.”

“Did something happen at the studio?”

Evading her probing eyes, he turned back to face the elevator doors before responding. “Yeah.”

She had a feeling he was still lying but wasn’t sure what, if anything, she should do. Linc in a bad mood was new territory for them. And while she’d like to think they’d become friendly over the past few weeks, she still didn’t feel comfortable probingwhen he clearly didn’t want to talk about what was bothering him.

The elevator doors opened and they stepped off, Nora following Linc to the door to her room.

“You got your key?” he inquired.

“Oh, yeah, it’s in my bag. Hang on.” After a bit of fumbling, she got the door open, holding it wide for Linc to walk through with Sophie.

He deposited her on the bed then headed for his room. “I’m gonna take a shower.”

She watched him disappear through the connecting door, pondering his mood before shaking it off. There was nothing she could do if he didn’t want to share. She wasn’t his girlfriend or even a friend, really, with the right to push him to open up. She needed to just let it go. It wasn’t her job to make Linc happy. Something she’d be wise to remember.

He had the right idea about one thing though. A shower was an excellent idea. She needed to wash the chlorine from her hair and it was best to do it while Sophie was still sleeping.

Nora had just reached her suitcase when the door flew back open. Eyes widening, her heartbeat quickened as Linc reached her in two long strides, took her by the upper arms, and pulled her against his chest.

His lips crashed down on hers. Shocked, she comprehended nothing but his possessive hold and the spark that shot down her spine to her core, igniting a need she hadn’t thought possible. His kiss was everything she’d expected it to be and more.

So much more.

Ending the kiss just as abruptly as he started it, Linc wrenched his mouth away, taking a step back. She stared up at him, breath held and barely blinking, thankful for the firm grip he still had on her upper arms, unsure if her legs would support her without it.

“I shouldn’t have done that.” One of his hands moved to cup her chin and his thumb tenderly caressed her bottom lip. “But fuck me if I don’t want to do it again.”

She wanted to tell him that was fine by her, but her brain was having trouble forming words. Instead, she licked her still moist lips, tasting Linc on her tongue.

“Fuck, you’re killing me.”

Stepping into her, he moved his hand from her chin to the back of her neck, his fingers tangling in the hairs at her nape as he lowered his head. This time his kiss was gentle. His lips softly caressed hers before his tongue swiped, asking for permission to enter. Which she instantly gave, opening for him willingly, and a growl filled her ears as he deepened the kiss.

His other hand moved from her arm to the low of her back, holding her in place. She felt his hardness pressing into her belly and in response, her nipples stiffened and her core ached. Completely taken by surprise by her level of need and how quickly it had come over her, she found her hands clutching his sides, her fingers curled into the soft fabric of his t-shirt, pressing herself impossibly closer, wanting every inch of him touching every inch of her, knowing she could never get close enough—not while they were both fully clothed.

The pressure against her mouth softened as the kiss turned into tiny nibbles, his teeth lightly nipping her lower lip before skimming along her jaw, until his mouth reached her ear. “Tell me to stop. Tell me to walk away.”

“I can’t.” Was that her voice filled with breathless longing? “I don’t want you to.”

Burying his face in her neck, his arms tightened around her.

And that’s how they stayed—him breathing her in, her feeling the pounding of his heart— for a full minute. Until, without a word, he stepped from her embrace and left the room, closing the connecting door with a soft snick.

And she was left standing there, staring at it.

What the hell?

Chapter Nine

Fuck!

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