Page 79 of Sin City Lights

He must have looked like hell because her next words were spoken gently.

“What happened?”

“Everything fucking happened,” he muttered under his breath.

Great, now he was using profanity in front of her. Could he get any lower? Adam scowled.

Her chest rose in a deep breath, and she let it out slowly. Then she leaned toward the couch, reaching for her purse.

“Don’t.”

The word slipped out of him before he realized he’d said it.

She froze in place.

Every piece of his soul reached out to her.“Don’t leave.”

She turned to face him again. His gaze held hers, and whatever she saw there seemed to change her mind. She bent to look into his face. Gently, her small, soft hands settled on his cheeks, thumbs tracing just below his eyes, where he was sure he had dark circles.

His nostrils picked up a hint of Delina perfume. His chest seizedmid-breath.

“OK, I won’t,” she whispered. She cradled his face between her palms, lifting.

He let her tip his head back.

And then she pressed her lips to his.

Eve

She poured all of her longing and relief into that kiss.

Eve took his mouth as if he were a life force, and he was her last chance for survival.

He pulled her into his lap, and she allowed him. His thigh was firm under her own, and Eve leaned into him, sliding her hands up his hard chest. She flattened her palms, feeling his heartbeat, strong and sure, as he angled his head to take gentle control.

Her arms slid around his neck. She needed the anchor because her head was rapidly going into a tailspin. He tasted like scotch, and a corner of her mind still wondered why he’d drunk so much, but right now, she didn’t need to know.

She had missed him, and he was here.

It was a long time before they broke for air. Eve began trailing soft kisses along the corner of his mouth, down his raspy jaw, and it was all she could do to stop herself from licking his Adam’s apple, but she refrained. This wasn’t the time.

He pulled her close, settling his chin on top of her head, his warmth enveloping her completely.

“Forgive me?” he murmured, his question a deep rumble.

She rubbed her cheek against his chest, reveling in his scent and the smoothness of his shirt.“Only if you tell me what happened.”

“I told you. I forgot.”

She wanted to know why since this was out of character.“Don’t want to talk about it?”

“Let’s just say I had a rough week. I don’t want to rehash it. I’d rather…” He reached to tilt her face to his, lightly stroking her jaw.

He took her mouth again, so very softly. His kiss was feather-light. She kissed him back, following his lead, gently and soothingly strokinghis tongue, sliding her fingers into his silky hair, seeking to ease whatever had him drinking alone in this empty, darkened apartment.

It was an exquisite give-and-take. This kiss was different from all the others, no aggression, no demand.

She sighed into his mouth, finally pulling back to sip at his lips. She kissed his jaw, his cheek, his eyelids. She kissed his temple. Then, drawing a deep breath, she nestled in his arms, feeling them tighten around her.

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