Page 8 of The Keeper

“Is this okay?” he murmured, his lips brushing against my ear.

I nodded, unable to form words as his mouth trailed down my neck. My fingers tangled in his wet hair, holding him close as he nipped and sucked at my sensitive skin.

“Dane,” I gasped, arching into him.

He pulled back slightly, his dark eyes searching mine. “Tell me what you want, darlin’.”

The intensity of his gaze made me shiver. “I want...” I trailed off, suddenly feeling shy despite our intimate position.

His thumb traced my lower lip, sending another shiver through me. “Tell me.”

I took a shaky breath, my desire overriding my hesitation. “I want you to kiss me.”

A slow smile spread across his face. “Thought you’d never ask.”

He lowered his head, his lips barely brushing against mine. The light touch was electric, igniting every nerve ending in my body. I pressed closer, desperate for more.

Dane obliged, capturing my mouth in a searing kiss that left me breathless. His tongue swept across my lower lip, seeking entrance. I opened for him eagerly, moaning as his fingertips moved along my jaw, angling my head to deepen the kiss.

“Christ, Piper,” he growled, as I rocked against the bulge in his shorts, desperate to alleviate the ache spreading throughout my lower body.

I was vaguely aware of the obscene noises I was making as my wet hands pawed frantically at the hard planes of his chest like a cat making biscuits.

“What would you have done if your friends had been talking to me?” I murmured, hissing out a breath when he thrust forward, dragging the length of his erection over my clit.

“Killed them,” he said with a growl.

My nipples pebbled at the lack of humor in his tone, as much as the scrape of his beard against my jaw.

“Sorry to interrupt?—”

Dane and I jerked apart, breathing heavily. I could feel the heat in my cheeks as I turned to where Ivy stood at the edge of the pool, arms crossed and a knowing smirk on her face.

She wasn’t sorry at all.

“Seriously?” I groaned, dropping my forehead to his shoulder in frustration.

“Yes, seriously,” she said, mimicking my voice. “C’mon. We’ve got a long drive home tomorrow.”

“Walk you back to your room?” he asked, his intense gaze boring into mine.

Despite the disappointment surging through my veins, I nodded. “I’d like that.”

FOUR

PIPER

Ivy & Piper’s Guide to Life Rule Number Twenty-Nine:

Wash your face every single night.

Ivy paused in the open doorway to our hotel room and cleared her throat, clearly expecting me to follow.

“Go on, I’ll be there in a minute,” I assured her with a grin, likely giving away my true intentions.

She shook her head before disappearing inside, leaving me alone with Dane in the quiet hallway.

The air buzzed with electricity, and I was hyperaware of everything from the distantdingof the elevators to the rise and fall of his chest. Some part of me knew I needed to commit this moment to memory. My heart pounded like a drumline in my chest as common sense warred with impulsivity.

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