Page 18 of The Lynx and the Llama
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“I was only trying to make a joke—”
“I understand that.” Quinn interrupted Carol’s explanation with an outstretched palm. “And clearly, Erika doesn’t want you following her, but I am going to because I am certain it’s me that is more at fault than you. After all, I’m the one who made her uncomfortable, to begin with.”
“Quinn, I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
Quinn dismissed Carol’s remark with a wave of his hand and dashed off in Erika’s direction. He reached her just as she was placing her hand on the bathroom door handle.
“Quinn, I don’t want to discuss this, especially with you.”
“Why?” he asked incredulously as his fingers brushed the back of her hand and traced the length of her lower arm. “Do you realize how soft and touchable your skin is?” He couldn’t help touching it, touching her. He glanced her way, hoping to tell her with his eyes that she was everything he wanted, everything he needed, and oh, so much more.
She sucked in a breath, and suddenly, her scent caught Quinn’s nose. Lilies with a hint of roses. Such a divine scent. So divine that he couldn’t help but bring his lips a breath from her ear.
“Let me kiss you, please, Erika. Please?”
That was apparently all she needed to hear. Their first kiss had surprised her, but Quinn was more than ready and willing to give her advanced notice this time. She laced her fingers in his thick, wavy locks and drew his forehead to hers.
“Quinn, I don’t know about this. I just don’t know. You’ll be back to your life by next week, and so will I.”
“Don’t think about that right now.” He cupped her cheek. “Just kiss me. Please? I need to taste you, kitten, and probably more so than anything I’ve ever needed in my life.”
She panted out a couple of gasps of air before she cupped his cheek, nuzzled his nose, and lightly pressed her closed lips on his. His hands slipped from her cheeks, down her arms, and wrapped around her waist. He then pulled her closer to him. Her soft curves met his hard planes; all he could think about was shoving his tongue down her throat and tasting her essence, tasting all of her body. Because why shouldn’t he find out how she tasted? He playfully parted the seam of her lips with his tongue, and she opened herself to him. The gesture made him soar with electric heat.
Quinn plunged his tongue inside her welcoming mouth. The explosion of goosebumps pricked every inch of her exposed skin where he grazed his fingers. And the wine they’d just consumed touched his tongue in the most intimate way imaginable. He’d never kissed someone quite like this before. The touching, the caressing, the exploring seemed far more convivial than he’d ever expected in his dating experience.
She let out a muffled groan and ground her hips into his hard cock. The sensation flooded him with thoughts about taking her back to the hotel with him. But they couldn’t exactly do that right now since they were on assignment with her boss.
Shit! The assignment! How long have we been kissing? And right by the bathroom, no less!
He’d never had a PDA encounter in his life! Why would he? Zagan ruined more in his life than any other person. Hell—Zagan would probably be the only one to make him put up a line of tighter defenses around his heart than Fort Knox! What continued to make him lose all of them with this woman?
She slid her palms down his chest. Wanting to place some distance between the two of them again? No. Thank god! She was feeling his pecs and his hardened nipples. That was a stupid idea since it only made him want her more. His lips broke from hers to kiss her jawline and down to the crux of her neck. All while sliding his hand down from her shoulder to her breast. He was about to rub small circles around her nipple when she spoke.
“We have to stop,” she said as their heat drained from his body. “Because if we don’t, I will forget about this assignment and take you back to my place.”
Fuck!
She panted a few breaths, her pupils completely blown out as he gazed into her violet-blue eyes. And fuck did she look completely perfect this way. So damned perfect.
“Do you mean it?” His voice was gravelly as his palms grazed her ass for a moment. She arched her back in response to his touch, pushing her wet sex into his hardened cock.
She let out a sob and panted as his heated breath blew next to her ear.
“No! Yes?” She huffed out another panting breath before she continued. “Damn it! I don’t know what I mean anymore.”
He cupped her cheeks and put distance between them. It was a gesture he regretted from her utterance because he instantly mourned the loss of the close heat between them. His dick grew to an unfamiliar ache, too. The woman was doing things to him he never imagined possible. He was just as confused about her as she was about him! He was attracted to her, and his brain shouted all kinds of warning signs. He’d only be with her for the next few days. Nothing more. But something in him didn’t care about any of that.
“Let’s get back to the others. Unless, of course, you really need the ladies’ room. If you do, I’ll wait until you come out and escort you back.”
Her hands were still on his chest, and she began sliding them to his forearms. Why she was caressing him was beyond his imagination, but he didn’t care what it meant at this point. All he cared about was ensuring the moment lasted as long as possible. Her touch was electric and carnal, all at once.
“I’m okay. I just wanted to hide in the bathroom for a bit.”
His hand slid to cup her cheek again. “I figured as much. Are you good now?”
“Yes.”
