Page 103 of Cross Check Hearts

I nod politely, and when Max turns to talk loudly to Dr. Price about a case he recently won, Hannah leans over to whisper in my ear. “He’s one of those TV lawyers. Rich as hell.”

“And just as full of himself,” I whisper back, and although Hannah snorts, she keeps it under wraps.

“It was wonderful to meet you, Declan. Enjoy the rest of your night,” Dr. Price says, turning back to us before he excuses himself from the conversation, leaving us standing with Max.

The TV lawyer pontificates to us for several more minutes until the fake smile I’m wearing starts to make my cheeks hurt. He doesn’t ask either of us a single thing about ourselves, which annoys me—Hannah is here to network, and even though I have no doubt that she’d never want to work for his firm, I feel like this guy should be more impressed by the amazing woman standing in front of him.

Finally, Max sees someone across the room who must be more “important” than either of us, because he quickly wraps up his latest story.

“I’d better move along. Gotta keep making the rounds,” he says with a brash laugh. “See you two later.”

He wanders off, and I rest a hand on Hannah’s lower back as I watch him go.

“What a douche,” I mutter, more to myself than anyone else, but Hannah still hears it.

She shrugs, laughing softly. “He’s a rich TV lawyer. What do you expect?”

You deserve better than this crowd.

The thought flashes through my mind, hovering right on the tip of my tongue, but somehow I manage to keep it to myself. It’s true, though. Dr. Price seemed nice enough, and I’m sure the rest of her professors are fine too, but as I’m looking around the room, I can’t help thinking how fake and pretentious all of this is—and how equally fake and pretentious most of the people are.

No wonder Hannah hates this. I don’t blame her. These aren’t her people at all, and she’s nothing like them. She does a good enough job of faking it because she has to, but something tells me if she had her way, she’d never set foot in a place like this again. And that’s exactly what I like about her. She hasn’t let all of this glitz and glamour change her—she’s still real in a room full of pretenders.

As I’m surveying the room, my chest tightens when my eyes land on a familiar face I really did not want to see. Hannah’s ex, Aaron, is standing across the room talking to a small group of people.

Thankfully, Hannah hasn’t noticed Aaron looking every bit the part of the rich child of privilege he is as he schmoozes with the best of them in his expensive suit. He looks just as smug and arrogant as the rest, and even the sight of him is enough to stir my protectiveness and possessiveness again.

Something primal ignites in me.

I need to get her alone.Now.

“Come with me,” I whisper in Hannah’s ear, my voice rough with sudden urgency. I pluck the glass from her hand and set it down along with mine, then wrap my arm around her waist to guide her away before Aaron notices us and inserts himself into our business again. I’ve seen more than enough of him lately—I could honestly go the rest of my life without ever running into that asshole again—so I’m not about to create an opportunity for him to bother her.

“Where are we going?” she asks, her breath catching at my tone.

“You’ll see soon enough,” I reply, my fingers pressing possessively into her hip.

I lead her from the main ballroom into a quiet hallway in search of somewhere a little more private. My blood pounds in my veins as I try door after door, desperate to find somewhere—anywhere—to be alone with her. They’re all locked, so clearly the staff is trying to keep everyone corralled in one room, but I’m determined to find a place where we can be alone. Eventually, one of the doors clicks open.

“Found one,” I murmur with satisfaction, flashing Hannah a smirk as I pull her by the hand inside the small supply closet loaded with folding chairs and tables.

The door clicks shut behind us and darkness instantly swallows us, but in the last light leaking in from outside, I see hunger ignite in her eyes as I step toward her like a predator stalking its prey.

“What are you…?”

Her voice trails off as I stop in front of her. I can already feel myself getting hard just from the tension crackling between us and the thrill that’s playing out all over her face. Her expression softens as realization slowly sets in, and she blinks several times in succession as she tries to acclimate to the darkness.

I reach out to gently drag one finger up her bare forearm, and the way that goosebumps instantly appear on her skin makes my cock twitch in my pants. Her eyes snap to mine, and she swallows hard. It’s so quiet in the dark, small space that I can literally hear her heart pounding in her chest. The sound sends desire surging through me, hot and demanding.

“Thank god. I can’t wait any fucking longer,” she rasps through the blackness, and the next thing I know, her lips are on mine. The fire that’s been burning low between us all night long erupts into an inferno, and my tongue claims her mouth, forcing its way inside. She wraps her arms around my neck, and I snake my hands down her sides and reach up the slit of her dress for the bare skin on her thigh.

“I’ve been thinking about this since we left the apartment,” I growl against her lips. “Watching you work that room in this fucking dress while knowing you’re bare underneath…”

She gasps into my mouth and shudders against me when my fingers find her pussy. I pull back to stare into her eyes, barely visible in the darkness. “Fuck, you’re soaking wet already. Tell me it’s for me.”

“It’s all for you. You drive me fucking crazy.”

“I’ve been half-hard ever since we left your apartment,” I growl against her ear. “All I could think about was bending you over and fucking you until you scream my name.”

---