Page 27 of Fast Fury

He glanced over at her as he steered down the mountain road, the silvery light of the moon frosting his inky hair. “Sure.”

“Okay, so where do we stand right now?”

The hint of a smile played around the edge of his mouth as he focused back on the road. “You want an actual label for it?”

No. Yes. “I want to know what’s going on here, so I’m sure we’re on the same page.”Because I don’t want to make a fool out of myself and get my heart broken again.And he was the one man who could definitely make a fool out of her.

“What do you want?” he countered.

Grrr.She frowned at him. “Oh,no. You first.”

“Pretty sure I already made that plain around the corner from the elevator the night you came to my place.”

The mention of the kiss triggered a total sensory recall of it. Screw subtlety. “You made it plain you want in my pants, yeah. Is that all you want?” It better not be.

He shot her a disbelieving look and raised a coal-black eyebrow. “No. I want you.”

Those words, in that deep, sexy voice, sent a shiver through her. “What does that mean? For the duration of this trip? Longer? And how do we know it would even work between us? Is it worth risking what we’ve already got, when we might find out we’re not compatible?”

“Isn’t it worth giving it a chance, and finding out for sure?”

She considered that for a moment. “Only if you swear to me we’ll still be friends if it doesn’t work out.” Even though no one could promise that, she needed to know he valued their friendship as much as she did, or no dice.

He inclined his head. “I swear.”

Easier said than done, once people had been intimate and feelings had been hurt when one person broke it off down the road. “So what—”

She broke off when he raised her hand to his lips, pressed a slow, damp kiss to the backs of her knuckles, sending a rush of goosebumps up her arm. “Look. I know you’re still hesitant about this, and I’m trying not to push. How about we just take it one day at a time, enjoy each other’s company while we’re here, and see where things go?”

Because I’m not wired that way?She needed to know the details in advance. “And if they go well, we’d be exclusive?”

He gave her a heated look, his intense gaze dropping to her lips. “We’re exclusive starting now. I would never share you.”

Another wave of heat cascaded over her at the possessive tone in his voice. The idea of being Kai’s alone, the recipient of all that intense masculine focus and heat… Her insides squeezed, that all too familiar throb reigniting between her thighs. “Okay,” she agreed, trying and failing to stem the excitement coursing through her. “One day at a time, and we’ll see where things go.”

“Okay.” He kissed her hand again, the hint of dampness as he trailed his tongue across her knuckle insanely arousing.

The drive back was gorgeous, the warm night air whipping around them in the open convertible. Abby glanced at him, drinking in the sight of his profile, the power of his arms and shoulders. He turned her on big time, but he also made her feel safe.

Safe in a way she hadn’t with anyone else. He would take care of her, protect her if need be. And it meant so much to her that he’d planned that wonderful, unforgettable meal for her. Her stomach was full, she was warm, and in good hands.

By the time they reached the Grand Wailea, it was nearly midnight and she was almost asleep. She sat up in her seat, fighting another yawn. “Sorry. I guess my internal clock hasn’t adjusted yet.”

“It’s okay.” He got out and hurried around to open her door for her, then took her hand and helped her out.

Abby gazed up at him in the flickering light of the tiki torches, indecision tugging at her. Should she ask him to come upstairs, rather than him driving back to his grandmother’s for the night?

Her thoughts scattered when he wrapped one thick arm around her waist and pulled her close, her breasts pressed to the solid wall of his chest. His other hand came up to cradle the side of her face as he leaned down and placed his mouth on hers.

Shocking heat bolted through her, taking her off guard. She’d sworn to take this one day at a time, but her body hated that plan. It wanted Kai, relief from the ache he created inside it, and it wanted thatnow.

She clung to his shoulders, slid her hands up into his short, thick hair and met each velvet stroke of his tongue, each caress of his lips. The way he held her, hungry and possessive but still gentle, turned her inside out. Within a minute she teetered right there on the edge of control, on the point of caving and asking him to come up to her room.

But Kai surprised her by ending the kiss and releasing her. “I know it’s late, and you’ve got a long day ahead of you tomorrow, plus your internal clock’s all screwed up right now. You need a good night’s sleep.”

At first she wasn’t certain she’d heard him right. She barely caught herself before she could blurt out the words that would seal their fate and change everything irrevocably.

Stay with me tonight.

---