Page 65 of Zero Hour

God, she couldn’t believe she was actually going to do this.

But tonight, she didn’t want to be alone.

She wantedhim.

Taking a steadying breath, she cracked the door open and stepped onto the landing.

Next door, she could hear him moving, punching the pillows into shape, the creak of the bed.

“Patrick,” she called softly.

The movement stopped.

Footsteps.

Then he appeared on the landing, and?—

Oh, sweet Lord.

He was wearing nothing but boxers.

Her breath stalled. Broad shoulders, muscular chest, taut abs that tapered into a deep V. A fine dusting of hair covered his torso, leading down to . . .

She swallowed. Damn.

She should say something, but her brain had short-circuited.

“You said to call if I needed anything,” she croaked, barely recognizing her own voice.

His gaze darkened. “Yes?”

She exhaled shakily. “I know this sounds crazy, especially since we haven’t known each other very long. But…” She bit her lip. “I need you.”

A muscle ticked in his jaw.

She lifted her chin, summoning the last of her courage. “Will you hold me tonight?”

For a long, excruciating moment, he didn’t move.

Then, he grinned. A moment later, he’d pulled her into his arms, his body crushing against hers. “I thought you’d never ask.”

CHAPTER 24

Pat crushed his mouth to hers, his hand splaying across the small of her back as he pulled her flush against him.

Jesus.She felt incredible.

Warm, soft, intoxicating.

The moment their lips met, the world outside ceased to exist.

She sighed into his mouth, parting for him, and he seized the invitation, deepening the kiss, tasting her, taking her. She was the perfect mix of sweet and heady, like the finest whiskey, and he was already drunk on her.

Somewhere in the haze, he scooped her up and carried her into his bedroom.

She gasped as he set her down on the bed, her legs bare, her body swathed inhisshirt. It should’ve been illegal, how goddamn sexy she looked in his clothes. But not for long.

Slowly, deliberately, he unbuttoned the fabric, revealing inch after inch of golden skin, the smooth curve of her stomach, the lush swell of her breasts.

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