Page 54 of The Show

Two cars were waiting as we disembarked, one for me and one for her. When they’d been organized, I’d assumed I’d want to get away as quickly as possible, but now I wanted longer with her. Just five more minutes. That never ending five more minutes.

We waited by her car as our bags were being brought and loaded into the separate trunks.

She hesitated at the door I was holding open for her. “I’ll see you tomorrow at the stadium then.”

My head did that weird awkward, bobbing agreeing thing, which I swear I’d never done before in my life. “Yeah. Ten a.m.”

“Great!” She smiled, her eyes sparkling so much I could be convinced they were made of actual diamonds. “You did it, Penn. You got what you always wanted! Jupiter Reeves is going to play for you. Congratulations.”

I wasn’t ready for, or expecting, the hug she pulled me into; I froze and my heart juddered, but her body was too hot and excited for me to do anything but hug her back. And now she was in my arms I didn’t want to let go, especially as this was the closest I’d ever been to her; the most of her I’d ever touched.

Not that I’d ever touched her.

My senses were assaulted by the soft scent of citrus running through her thick mane of white-blond hair that was currently pressed hard against my nose. I couldn’t move even if I wanted to, which I didn’t. I was glued to her, and it would soon become a problem given all my blood was headed south like it was trying to break a world speed record.

Relief and disappointment collided in my gut when she stepped back.

“Seriously, congratulations.”

“Thank you,” I managed to croak in reply, drinking in my fill of her big blue eyes again. For the first time I was actually close enough to see that the delicate ring round the edges was actually dark green, and not black like I’d always thought.

I took a mental snapshot, committing it to my Lowe Slater Memory Box, in case I never got close enough to see it again.

Then two things happened.

Her eyes dropped to my lips, and I watched the tiniest ripple take flight in the corner of her mouth as she sucked her lip in.

The memory of last night came rushing back; the heat of her gaze travelling over my body like a brushfire while Murray’s voice echoed round my brain again, telling me she had been staring.

I’d never been known for thinking before acting. In fact, acting first had gotten me into trouble so many times, Rafe kept an apology statement on file for me.

But I wouldn’t be apologizing for this. For losing control. All twenty-five years of it.

My hands, which were still on the way to dropping by my sides from when she stepped back were now cupping her cheeks, her skin softer than I’d ever imagined. Her eyes shot up to mine, wide and dripping in desire, nearly scalding me from the fire blazing through them.

And I knew. I knew that look.

But never in my wildest dreams would I have ever imagined it coming from her.

My pinky brushed over the hammering pulse in her neck.

She wanted me. This.

My mouth crashed onto hers in the same nanosecond her breath hitched, her lips parting and opening up for me before I had the chance to tease along the seam of them. I knew a groan escaped me as my tongue glided against hers, I knew because I felt the weight of it barrel up my throat. I couldn’t hear it though; I was currently deaf from the volume of blood whooshing through my ears louder than Niagara Falls, next to the pounding of my heartbeat.

She dropped whatever she’d been holding, her hands sliding up the edges of my shirt collar and around my neck, gripping me tighter as I sunk further into her. My fingers responded, pushing up into her hair and gripping tight, just like they - and I - had always wanted to do. The intensity of our kiss increased ten-fold, and any onlookers would surely witness the neon flow of electricity rolling over us as we built our very own forcefield.

I lost all feeling in my legs when a gentle moan escaped her, a moan I wanted to hear again in a much more private setting, just the two of us. It also served the necessary reminder that we were currently in public, and surrounded by half a dozen of my employees.

This was not a kiss that needed witnesses, no matter how much I was desperate to devour her.

I slowed my strokes, caressing her mouth until I had the strength to pull away, but kept a firm grip on the back of her head so she didn’t topple on her tiptoes. If I had a shred of concern I’d done the wrong thing, it vanished the second I got a look at her; glassy eyed, rosy cheeked, and her expression brimming with want, heat, and arousal.

I cleared my throat, trying to find the right words to say when my brain was screaming HOLY FUCK YOU JUST KISSED LOWE SLATER! like I’d dreamed of doing since I was old enough to know I wanted to do it.

“I’ll see you tomorrow at ten. Meet you at the stadium.” I managed to keep my voice from breaking.

She merely blinked in reply, silently slipping into the back of her car. Her gaze was still locked onto mine as I closed the door. Before it drove off, through the blackened glass I could just make out the visual of her fingers pressing against her lips. I hoped she could still feel mine against them, like I could feel hers.

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