Page 22 of Sin City Lights

His eyes were twin blue flames. Even in this low light, the blatant desire in them was so intense, she had to break eye contact.

She started to extricate herself from his grasp, but it was obvious that couldn’t happen. He held her like a vise and wasn’t letting go.

“Eve.” His smooth voice had a dangerous undertone.

“Adam.”

She almost smiled at how their names sounded together, just as she had when she’d learned his name.

But the smile died on her lips when she read his expression. The corners of his mouth were tight. His jaw was granite.

He was clearly upset. And Adam Larssen angry was a formidable sight.“Fancy running into you, literally.”

She unclamped her hands from around his neck, sliding her palms to his shoulders, and felt something unusual. She saw that he was wearing epaulets, with four gold bars on black.

That explained his presence here, but she was still surprised.“You’re a pilot?”

One corner of his mouth kicked up.“Sometimes.” He didn’t offer more and still looked so stern, she didn’t dare ask.

“I have a question for you.”

She well knew what it was. She wet her lips.“And what is that?”

“I need to know…” One of his hands began a slow slide up her back, stopping only when he reached her nape. Splaying his fingers there, he rested them right along her pulse point, his thumb burying in her hair, stroking.

Stroking again. She shivered.“What do you need to know?”

Her heart slammed in her chest, and her breath caught with each inhalation. She wasn’t alone. His breath was coming fast, as well.

“Tell me—” his fingertips did wild things to her pulse “—why all of my requests to see you were refused.”

Her hands slid down to his upper arms. His biceps were rock-hard.

“You made requests? For me?”

She knew he had. Three, over the past three weeks. To the frustration of her liaison, she had declined them all.

“I did.” His hand slid higher, fingers threading into her hair as he cradled the back of her head in his large palm.“And each time, I was informed you weren’t available.”

“I…wasn’t.” It was as close as she could come to responding without lying.

His hand moved back and forth lightly, giving her shivers along her spine.“You weren’t? Or didn’t want to be?”

“I—”

“Because I know—” he interrupted, his hand coming around to caress her chin. Gently, he tipped her face up with his thumb and index finger. “—that when it comes to scheduling, you, Eve, have absolute control.”

Intently studying her face, he no longer looked angry, and the fire in his eyes threatened to consume her.“And knowing that, I can only ask one thing.” His thumb brushed over the sensitive skin under her chin, raising goosebumps all along her scalp. “What would I have to do to get you to say yes?”

She tilted her head back. It was as if her body acted on its own,compelled by his intoxicating magnetism.

“What do I have to do, Eve?” he murmured in that deep, seductive voice.

He lowered his head.

It must have been instinct that made her grip his tie and pull. He paused, his handsome face a breath away, his eyes searching her face intently. He drew a deep breath.

And then his lips took hers.

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