Page 84 of The Spider & the Storm

I shook my head and diverted my gaze. “I don’t date.”

She lifted one side of her mouth. “Who said I was talking about dating? What if I just want to be friends?”

“Nope. Sorry.” I stuffed my hands into my pockets as I took a step back from her door, bringing my eyes back to hers. “I don’t do friends either.”

A grin broke out across her face as she laughed, shaking her head. She brushed a few strands of her long black hair off her forehead, then let that hand fall heavily against her side as she blew out a breath.

“Okay, then how about if I just stop by every now and then to annoy you? Wouldthatbe okay?”

Somehow, we'd both turned rejection into something flirtatious, and I found my own reluctant grin tugging at thecorners of my mouth. I heard Luke telling me to go for it. To let her in, let her shake me up a bit before setting her free.

Luke had always been right until the day he wasn't, but I knew in my gut that he would've been right about this. Even if I wasn't sure I was wrong in resisting either.

So, as I took another step back, I found my head nodding. “I guess I could deal with that.”

Her smile softened as she leaned against the door. “Cool. Then, I'll annoy you soon.”

“Can't wait,” I grumbled, my tone sarcastic as I stared at her in that corset, accentuating the depth of her cleavage and the length of her neck and the delicate curvature of her collarbone.

God, Luke would've kicked my ass for leaving her to spend the night alone in her room.

“Neither can I.”

She smirked with those deep red lips. There was a dare in her eyes. A come-hither glint that beckoned to me every moment I stood in the middle of that hotel hallway. But I was stubborn, my resolve firm, and I ignored every desire that coursed between where she and I stood.

“Have a good night,” I concluded, bowing my head like I wasn't of this century before turning on my heel and walking as fast as I could to the elevator.

“You too, Charlie,” she called to me. “Thanks for keeping me safe.”

Don't turn around. Don't turn around, I silently commanded, my eyes set on the bronze doors at the end of the hall.Let her close the door first. Let her get inside.

I jabbed my thumb at the arrow and tapped fingertips against my thighs as I watched the flashing numbers above the doors roll around to the seventh floor. But it was too slow, and Stormy girl never closed the door.

Why didn't I ask for her damn name?

The thought pulled at my mind until I turned, glancing over my shoulder to find her leaning against the doorway. Her smile had disappeared, leaving room for a lonely, longing sadness I was too familiar with. Her eyes met mine, and her lips quirked for the briefest second before the little glimmer of a smile faded again.

The elevator arrived. The doors opened.

“What the hell are you doing, man?”Luke's voice said. “Are you out of your fuckin' mind?”

Maybe, I answered, glancing at the empty elevator car and swallowing against the lead ball in my throat.I don't want to go.

“So, don't, you idiot.”

What if she doesn't want me to stay?

“Her door's still fuckin' open. She's still standing there. God, have I taught you nothing?”

“Fuck it,” I muttered aloud.

Then, with a puff of my chest, I turned on my heel and barreled down the hallway with only one thing on my mind. Stormy girl pushed off the doorframe, leaving her arms loose at her sides, curiosity and expectancy burning like chaotic wildfire in her emerald eyes. A warning sounded from down the hall as my palms framed her face. She tipped her head back, andmy neck craned to bring my mouth to hers in a moment of uncharacteristic spontaneity.

“The elevator,” Stormy whispered breathlessly, her eyes fluttering closed as her hands wrapped around my wrists.

“Okay,” I replied.

But as my lips met hers and our mouths simultaneously opened to lick and taste and savor, she dared to take a bold step backward into her room, taking me with her …

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