Page 29 of Property of Fox

“Hard hats and boots?” I retort, raising an eyebrow. “You clearly don’t mind getting dirty then.”

Fox leans in closer, a teasing glint in his brown eyes. “Only when it’s worth my while.” His voice drops a few octaves, vibrating with a low, enticing timbre that sends little shivers down my spine. “And you seem like it would be.”

My heart races, thumping loud enough that I’m sure he can hear it. The way he looks at me makes everything else fade into the background. I swallow hard, every instinct screaming for me to play cool while his gaze pins me down. “What do you mean by ‘worth your while?’” I manage to ask with feigned bravado despite my pulse hammering against my ribs.

Fox takes another step forward until there’s hardly space left between us leaving no room for doubt or silence. “You really want to know?” He closes that distance further still, so close now that his breath brushes gently against my skin.

“Um.” My voice wavers slightly as uncertainty washes over me. Suddenly there's no more room left for hesitation because without warning, without asking or waiting for permission, he closes the gap completely. His mouth meets mine, warm and demanding yet soft enough to send sparks racing down my spine.

A startled gasp slips past my lips, which he quickly allows to slip away into the kiss, deepening it as he cradles my face in his hands. There’s an urgency to it, a need that radiates between us. It’s been so long since a man has stirred this kind of reaction. Yet here I am, melting against Fox.

When his lips finally pull away, we’re both panting. I search his eyes, attempting to gauge how deep this moment is for him.

“So...” I manage, trying to regain my composure with mixed success. “That was...unexpected.”

“Was it?” he replies, leaning back slightly as if reclaiming some measure of swagger. “I thought we were just getting started.”

My cheeks flush under his scrutiny. “I didn’t mean for?—”

“Relax, firefly.” His tone switches from teasing to reassuring. “I promise I’m not going to bite… unless you want me to,” he adds with a wink.

Just as I gather the courage to respond, his phone blares an obnoxious ring through the stillness around us. A sharp reminder that reality is just outside the closed doors. He glances down at it, visibly annoyed by its intrusiveness.

"Seriously? Now?" Fox mutters under his breath. He tosses his phone onto the bed behind us. “Where were we?”

Just as he begins to lean in again, my stomach dips with anticipation and fluttering nerves, my breath hitching subtly. But before our lips can meet once more, the shrill sound of his phone interrupts us again. He groans, needlessly dramatic, as he reaches for it, glancing at the caller ID.

His frustration is evident as he swipes to answer. “What’s up?”

I can’t help but catch snippets of his conversation. “Yeah? Uh-huh… No, I’m busy right now. ” His eyes dart back to me, a mix of annoyance and masked concern. “Can it wait? I’m in the middle of something important.” The caller’s voice gets louder as Fox pinches the bridge of his nose between his fingers. “Fucking fine. I’ll be right down.” He ends the call, tossing his phone again.

“You have to go?”

“Believe me, the last thing I want to do is leave you but I’m working the event. My ball busting boss is looking for me. I have to go back.”

“Right,” I say. “Business calls, I guess. I should go back down, too. My friend is probably looking for me.”

Fox runs a hand through his hair, looking both frustrated and resigned. “I know I have to go back, but not before I kiss you again.” His lips find mine again, the kiss an electric jolt that penetrates my body. It’s deeper this time, a quiet promise hidden in the softness of his touch, and I momentarily lose track of the world around us. He pulls away slightly, searching my eyes with an intensity that makes it hard to breathe.

“Say you’ll meet me after the event’s over? I’m off the clock as soon as it’s over. I want to take you out. Just you and me.”

I feel a wave of warmth wash over me at his words. The way he looks at me, that spark of genuine interest behind his playful demeanor, sends butterflies fluttering through my stomach. I nod slowly, almost subconsciously, captivated by the promise of what’s to come.

“Okay,” I whisper, trying to sound more composed than I feel. “What time?”

“Eight o’clock. I’ll pick you up outside the lobby,” he replies, flashing that disarming smile again. “Just keep an eye out for a guy in steel-toed boots and a hard hat. You won’t miss me.”

“Right, because I wouldn’t want to confuse you with all the other tough guys roaming around here.” I manage a smile, feeling bolder now with the thrill of our moment still lingering between us.

He laughs, that rich sound echoing in my ears like music. “Trust me, firefly. You’ll know it’s me.” There’s a tinge of something unspoken in his gaze, a mix of excitement and urgency that makes the anticipation almost tangible.

But before I can respond, he abruptly straightens up, shifting from flirtation to focus. “I’ve really got to go now, or I’m going to be in deep shit,” he sighs, running a hand along his jawline as if reining in the energy between us.

“Go on then,” I say reluctantly. “I wouldn’t want to be responsible for you getting fired.”

With another lingering glance, he slips out the door, leaving me alone in his hotel room wondering what the hell did I just do?

FOX

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