Page 45 of Audiophile

He rolls his eyes. “Both Santa and Pirate Captain were written by my friend Holly as punishment for bets that I lost. Pirate wasn’t your favorite, right?”

I break out into a fresh wave of giggles. “No! Your accent was terrible!”

“My accent was amazing. He had to sound drunk.”

I’m still laughing when his hand grasps the back of my neck and pulls me forward. My giggles fade in breathless anticipation, because I’ve fantasized about this type of forcefulness.

His eyes blaze, and I know his kiss is going toconsumeme.

But then his eyes clear and, with a gentle stroke of his thumb down my neck, he lets go. I deflate, anticipation replaced by disappointment. Is he avoiding kissing me because he knows it’s too intimate? Maybe he thinks I’ll get too attached, the way his stalker was. But Reed speaks before I can reassure him this doesn’t mean anything.

“Come on,” he says. “Let’s get out of here. But we need to detour at the hotel.”

I convince him to let me pick up the tab—after all, he’s living in hotels and I don’t pay rent. We’re in Reed’s room all of five minutes as he packs a backpack and insists I switch into one of his shirts. We stop by the counter on our way out and Reed asks Tina to extend his stay another night.

“Sure thing,” she says brightly, but between typing, Tina raises an eyebrow at me. Reed notices.

“Yes, actually,” he interrupts Tina’s pointed stare. “Sheisthat good. Fucking phenomenal.”

I’m so surprised, my snorting laugh doesn’t come out until he’s guided me to his SUV just outside the front doors. “Reed!”

“What?” He opens the hatch, a smug smile plastered across his face. “Your hard limit is family. Is she family?”

“No.”

“Then it’s within the rules. Are you mad?” I shake my head, still giggling, as he sets his bag in the hatch. Grinning, he pulls me into his arms and presses us tightly together. “She’s watching us.”

Reed’s hands smooth down my back until he has a firm handful of my ass, and squeezes. My knees buckle, and I muffle my moan against his shoulder. Maybe he’s putting on a show, but Tina is the last thing on my mind while I twine my arms greedily around him. His kisses down my neck send my head spinning. Reed excels at this—touching me in ways I didn’t know I wanted. His scruffy jaw against the tender skin of my collarbone makes me shiver.

“Cold, Pet?” I manage to shake my head. “You want more?” I nod, lips tingling in anticipation, but his kisses travel away from my mouth and across my collarbone. One of his hands brushes over my breast, and I can’t tell if the needy sound that comes out is mine, his, or both of ours. He’s hard against me, and it’s a relief to know he’s affected too.

He swears as he breaks away. “Better get moving or I’ll drag you inside and claim my bargain.”

I swallow my protests, climbing into the passenger seat before they can burst out.

Before I beg for Reed to do just that.

Chapter seventeen

Reed

Petra is intoxicating. I’mtoo busy trying not to stare at her—or reach for her, or pull over on the side of the road to kiss her—to concentrate properly. By the time we arrive at the trail, my shoulders are tight.

“The waterfall loop?” Petra asks.

“Have you been? I want to record some audio while we’re here, and it’s finally stopped raining.” I grab my bag out of the back. I didn’t bring much, but my Zumie goes everywhere with me. It’s my favorite on-the-go binaural recorder.

Petra raises an eyebrow at me. “Good thing I’m wearing Converse. You know this trail is steep, right?”

“Good. I’ll record your panting—not much different from your sounds last night,” I tease, pulling her into me.

It’s the first time either of us has broached the topic. After that series of touches in the parking lot, I’m done allowing her any distance. I nip her neck, drunk off the scent of her skin.

“What I wouldn’t give to have recorded those, Pet. To hear my name a strung-out moan in my ear.” She shivers, and I love it. Keeping her on edge is my new favorite pastime. She’s got me there without trying, and her soft moans are going to haunt my dreams. “Was last night out of the ordinary, or are you not a screamer?”

Her swallow is loud in my ear. “I don’t scream. Ever.”

My blood rushes south so quickly that it makes me dizzy. “You shouldn’t say that.”

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