Page 45 of Resurrection

A surge of annoyance goes through me because she’s picking up the tab again. I need to prioritize access to my money. Or find another means to pay her.

I stare at her for a moment. I should leave her comment alone. Impulse control isn’t a strength. “I can recognize easy.” She glances up at me and our eyes lock. “Easy is me, going back to your hotel room, sliding off those shoes, pushing up your skirt, tugging your panties to the floor. Easy is me, trailing my lips from your ankles up to your inner thighs, spreading your legs and flicking my tongue across your clit until you can’t decide what you’re begging for. Do you want the release, or do you want to stay in that state forever?”

Her breathing is shallow, and I’m sure if I could put my finger on her pulse, I’d find it racing with desire. Her panties will be wet, so wet when I yank them off, it’ll be all I can do to stop myself from sinking into her, the warmth and wetness surrounding me.

“Finn.” Her voice is breathy, filled with longing.

Later her breathiness will be in my ear, echoing around me, smothered by my mouth covering hers.

I should have suggested room service.

Her phone beeps.

She presses her fingers to her forehead and breaks our eye contact as though she’s remembered something important, like she’s coming out of a trance. She snatches the phone off the table with one hand while the other circles her bun and squeezes. Her cheeks are flushed a pretty shade of pink.

“Jay has news.” She braces herself against the table before stooping to grab her purse from the floor.

Before I rise, I adjust myself. My pants are so fucking tight they’re almost painful.

Her hand shakes as she swings her bag onto her shoulder. Even still, she leads the way out of the restaurant with remarkable poise. Will her pupils have returned to size when we exit?

Jay meets us in the foyer. “Here, or…?”

“Upstairs.” She gives the lobby a visual sweep. “Who knows what ears are listening.”

She’s flustered in the elevator and selects the wrong floor button. She mumbles something incoherent before hitting the right number. Jay slides an amused glance in my direction, and I smirk. He knows I caused her misstep.

We stop outside her room, and Jay enters first to sweep for bugs or anything else that might cause us trouble. While he’sgone, she stands with her legs crossed at the ankle, her phone clutched in her hand, avoiding me.

“Did you enjoy my example?” I say. “Did it seem apt?”

“Shut up.” She types a message, avoiding me. “Don’t be an ass.”

“You used to like my ass. In fact, I remember—”

Jay pops his head out the door. “All clear.”

She expels her breath in a whoosh, her shoulders dropping. She grabs the door from him and enters the room. I follow behind her and sink into the closest chair while she leans on the king-sized bed.

“Well?” she says.

“My contact said a private jet went out late last night with an incomplete passenger list. Not uncommon from this airport, as you know. Followed the flight up at the port of entry—Belfast. Any guess who was on that plane?”

“Valeriya.” She sighs.

“Bingo.”

“In Ireland.” Carys frowns. “She must have googled you, Finn.”

“You got a hotel? Firm location?” My jaw clenches in annoyance.

“Working on it,” Jay says. “I hope I’ll have something by the morning.”

“Prep our pilot. We’re probably headed to Ireland tomorrow.” She strides to the minibar, picking up each of the liquors and examining their label.

“All of us going?” Jay looks between us as he heads to the door to prepare.

“No.” She glances at me. “Finn will stay here.”

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