Page 97 of Love Game

“How about hot stuff?” Kate asked as she pulled him out into the hall.

“Getting warmer.” He stopped dragging his feet and caught her up against him. “Only one problem with your plan, mastermind.”

A puzzled frown pulled at her brows as she tried to figure out what she might have missed. “Oh? What’s that?”

He jerked his chin at the doors lining the hallway. “We don’t know which room that key opens.”

Temporarily stymied by his reasoning, she had to laugh. “Yeah, well…” She glanced over her shoulder at the room they’d just escaped. “We could go back in there and ask, but I really don’t want to. What if they try to take it back?”

“They can’t take it back. I’ll crush them if they try,” he growled.

Kate beamed at him. “Oh, so macho. I like it. Well, we can either go down to the front desk and ask, or”—she scanned the deserted corridor once again—“we employ a little deductive reasoning.”

He kissed her hard and fast, stamping the latter idea with his approval. He set her down on her too-high heels once more but held on until he was certain she was steady. “Okay, Detective Snyder. Wow me.”

“Oh, I plan on it.” She pressed a finger to her bottom lip, then tapped it. “We’re on the top floor already. Stands to reason all the best rooms would be up here.”

“You’re brilliant.”

“I know.” She smiled, warmed by the affection in his tone more than the compliment itself. “That room on the other end of the hall has double doors and what appears to be some kind of plaque on the wall. I’m going to put my money on that one.”

“Quick and bold. I like that.” He squinted at the far door. “I can’t read it from here. Can you?”

“No,” she admitted as she stepped out of the nosebleed pumps Millie had forced her into. Swooping down, she caught the pair by the toothpick heels, then used them to gesture toward her pick. “Race you for it.”

Their eyes met, held, and then they both took off down the corridor at a full sprint. Hampered by her snug skirt, she touched the brass plaque engraved with the words “Honeymoon Suite” a fraction of a second after he did.

“I let you win,” she panted, falling back against the door and letting her shoes clatter to the floor at his feet.

“Bull.”

“My feet hurt from those stupid shoes.”

“Sexy shoes,” he corrected. “Whiner.”

“I’m wearing a skirt,” she cried, gesturing angrily at the knee-length instrument of torture that hobbled her stride.

Bracing his hand against the door, Danny caged her in. “Excuses, excuses.”

She looked up at him from under her lashes. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” he answered, his lips hovering just above hers. “Even if you do play dirty.”

He closed the distance before she could draw breath. Thankfully, the man was more than generous about sharing his. They kissed slow and deep, taking their time, savoring one another and the victory.

“You have no idea how dirty I would have played,” she whispered as he peppered her throat and neck with those little sucking kisses that made her insides clench and dissolve all at the same time. “I would have done whatever it took to keep you. You’re mine.”

Capturing her face in his hands, he tipped her chin up. “And you’re mine. Forever.”

“Forever,” she agreed on a sigh.

This kiss was hotter, deeper, and more demanding than the last. She moaned into his mouth when he slipped one hand down to stroke her ass. Kate tugged impatiently at her skirt, lifting it up just enough to hook a leg over his. Danny pressed into her, lining their bodies up with mind-melting precision. He slipped his hand under the hem of her skirt and shoved it a few inches higher.

“God, I love it when you wear skirts. Skirts and sports bras,” he rasped against her cheek. “I love seeing you in both, but I love seeing you out of them more.”

“I have to admit, I prefer to do without them both.”

She arched against him, and he groaned. “For the love of all that’s holy, where did that key go?”

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