Page 74 of Beneath the Starlight and Storms

A bubble of excitement rushes through me as I realize how much fun I’m having. Even though we are being chased.

Hook chuckles as he glances at me. I open my mouth to ask him what’s so funny when he narrows his eyes on something behind me.

I glance back to find Basilius’ guards catching up on us. We make a few sharp turns before we find an opening leading us outside. But this time it looks like we’ve ended up at the back of the manor.

There’s a huge maze that sits further down to the left of us with large flowers, bushes and greenery everywhere around it.

Hook pauses as he glances around, probably looking for our way out when I hear the men grow nearer.

Eyeing up a large bush just before the maze, I grab Hooks' hand and quickly pull him over to it, just reaching it as the men catch up to us.

“Where did they go?”

I peek around the bush just as the guards come out into the back garden. They move a few steps trying to search for us, but they don’t come anywhere near the maze or us.

After a couple of minutes, they group near the door with matching frowns.

“Maybe they went around the other way?”

The shortest guy they all seem to be referring to shrugs as if already bored with the idea of chasing us down again.

“Talon will kill us if he finds out we didn’t at least look around a bit.”

“Fine. Search the grounds. But it was probably just a couple of frisky guests.”

They break off into two groups. One heads around the side of the house while the other heads back inside.

I give it another couple of minutes before letting myself relax. Smiling to myself, I turn to Hook to let him know they’re gone.

But he’s already staring right at me with a look so heated that whatever I was about to say quickly becomes forgotten.

With two quick strides forward, he takes my face in his hands and slams his lips to mine.

Unlike earlier with its slow, sensual build, this kiss is full of fire and passion. A bruising kiss that scorches my lips and makes my heartbeat race. Hook kisses me like he wants to consume me, like he wants to sink beneath my skin and never let go. I melt into him, into his warmth, surrendering to the kiss. To him. To the raw, untethered passion building between us.

My fingers curl into his shirt as he draws out a hunger inside me. One that’s as wild and desperate as the blaze of heat burning throughout me.

But instead of stroking that fire, Hook’s kisses slow down. I grab his wrist, willing him to stay with me in this moment, for a little longer, but he pulls back, his eyes scanning my face for something as a myriad of emotions swirl behind his gaze.

“Tink…” he breathes. “I need to tell—”

“Boss?”

Hook clenches his jaw as Cash calls out.

“Hook?” I frown, watching something flicker in his eyes. He continues to stare at me a minute longer as if debating something before releasing a heavy sigh.

“Over here,” he tells Cash.

Cash comes around the bush, his brows raising as he glances between us.

“Was I interrupting som—” Hook gives him a sharp look and Cash’s smirk quickly drops as he clears his throat.

Hook gives me a soft look, an apology that makes me smile before he gives his full attention to Cash. “Any luck?”

“No. We couldn’t find any evidence of him working with them.”

Hook frowns and starts to ask Cash more questions. I turn and look at some of the garden while they talk, giving myself and my overheated body time to cool down.

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