Page 47 of Suddenly Tempted
His words hung in the air and Darcy felt like if she grabbed them and tugged, she’d get something deeper than banter. An insight into his real life, past the bravado and the teasing.
She laid down her cards, the game suddenly feeling secondary to whatever else was building between them. “You feel like that? Like you want to just step away from everything for a while?”
Devlin’s gaze flickered over her face before he looked back down at his cards. “Yeah, more than I’d like to admit.”
Darcy’s breath caught in her throat and for a moment they just stared at each other, the game of cards forgotten. She could feel the tension thickening between them again, the undeniable pull drawing her closer to him. She swallowed hard, her voice barely a whisper as she spoke.
“I think it’s your turn, Storm.”
Devlin blinked as if coming back to the moment. He glanced at his hand again and then pulled out four cards. Darcy could see the corners of his mouth tugging into a smile as he laid down each of the Queens in turn.
“Wait, what?” she said, her eyes widening. “Already?”
“I told you I was full of surprises,” he said, grinning.
Darcy threw her cards down in a play huff. “You are such a cheat.”
“I won that hand fair and square,” he said, eyes on her. The air between them was crackling with unspoken desire.
Darcy stood up, pushing her chair back with a grin. She leaned her hands on the table and bent her face towards Devlin.
“Fine, I guess I’ll have to win the next book.”
But before she could step away, Devlin had reached out and taken her hand in his. The touch sent a jolt of electricity through her and when she looked at him, his expression was serious.
“Or,” he said softly, his thumb grazing her skin, “we could forget about the cards for a while.”
Darcy’s breath hitched. The way he was looking at her, she felt like he was daring her to close the gap between them, to give in to the fire that had been smouldering all day. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she couldn’t find the words to respond.
Instead, she walked around the corner of the table, her fingers resting on Devlin’s wrist, feeling the steady thrum of his pulse beneath them. He slipped his hand from hers and moved it to her waist and around to the small of her back, pulling her closer until she was standing between his legs.
The game. The storm. The world outside — they all faded away as he stood up and his lips found hers again, and this time, there was no holding back.
Chapter 24
DEVLIN
If the last kiss had been spectacular, then this one was a drug. A drug that Devlin knew was going to take hold of him and never let go. He’d thought about nothing other than kissing Darcy all the way through their card game. Surprised himself, even, when he’d won the first book. Without breaking the kiss he moved them both to the sofa, the soft cushions breaking their fall as they tumbled down.
Pleasure hummed through him with every touch.
“You’re going to need to slow down,” he growled, shifting his gaze to Darcy, whose eyes were so dark and intense he nearly lost control there and then. “You have a way of making me forget everything. I want to remember this.”
He slid his hand beneath her jumper, fingers skimming her bare skin. Darcy moaned softly, leaning into him as he found her breast, gently stroking her hard nipple.
She was perfect. So perfect. There was something about her that was so honest and pure. Kissing her ignited all his senses, as if bells were ringing in his head with pleasure.
Suddenly Darcy pulled away, ending their kiss and bringing Devlin back to reality. The bells were louder. No, not bells. Beeping.
The radio.
Devlin slowly drew his hand away and groaned, leaning his head on her shoulder in frustration.
“Devlin? Darcy?” the static-filled voice came from the office. “It’s Officer Alleman. Over.”
Letting out a frustrated sigh, Devlin pulled back, resting his hand on Darcy’s waist, reluctant to let go. The radio beeped again.
“Okay, okay,” he muttered, getting up slowly and running a hand through his hair. He shifted his hips, tugging the material away, trying to make himself more comfortable.
