Page 8 of Delayed
Janice:Yummy! Got it. I’ll hunt him downif I have to. Enjoy the evening.
She planned to.
Chapter Four
Rex blew out a long breath and waited forhis heart rate to slow. Everything was a go. Their flight confirmedcancelled. Check in with the airline at 6:00 in the morning. Rideshare arriving in ten minutes.
He had twelve hours to enjoy this delightfulwoman. Twelve hours of bliss.
He hustled Anna down the corridor that ledto the rideshare pickup, her hand nestled in his. Despite his rush,Anna kept right up with him.
Then he saw it—a little hallway, a darkblack door at the end taunting him. Perhaps an office or janitorialcloset. He didn’t know. There was no sign. So maybe not an eleganthotel room, but it was private. At least, private enough for theirfirst kiss. The first kiss he couldn’t wait a minute longerfor.
“Where are we going?” she whispered.
“Privacy.” He gave her a grin. “Just amoment to ourselves so I can kiss you properly.”
She nodded.
He led her and her suitcase behind him. Hetwisted the doorknob. It was locked. Damn it.
Oh, well. He propped the suitcase near thewall. Grabbing her by the shoulders, he backed this beauty againstthe door, shielding her as much as possible from any passers-by. Hethreaded his fingers in her long locks and stared down at herperfect face. Her irises swirled with heat, making them golden.
Their breaths punctuated the air betweenthem.
“Since the moment you ran into me, I’vewanted to do…”
“I know.” Her purse dropped to her feet witha thud. She pushed up on her toes and claimed his mouth, not givinghim the chance to finish his sentence or kiss her first. She fistedhis shirt and pulled him closer until he was flush against her.They moaned in unison.
Damn. He liked a woman who wasn’t afraid togo after what she wanted. And she wanted him as much as he wantedher.
She swiped a tongue over his bottom lip,sending electricity zinging to all his nerve endings. When sheparted her mouth, he swept in, tasting the tanginess of the beerand something peppermint. He wanted more.
She thrust her tongue against his, duelingfor control of their entanglement. Though a part of him wanted torelent, to let her have this one, he couldn’t.
Tugging at her hair, he tilted her head justa bit to deepen the kiss. He wanted to get closer to her but didnot know how to make that possible. If nothing else happened today,he wanted this kiss to be burned in her memory as her best kissever. She pressed against him, perhaps wanting the same thing forhim.
His phone buzzed in his pocket. Horribletiming. God damn ride share was here. He pulled back, broke thekiss, and lowered his forehead to hers.
“Fuck me.” His chest expanded on rapidbreaths. “You can kiss.”
Her eyelids fluttered open. She sighed. “Sogood.”
“Our ride’s here.” He pressed his lips tohers and then her forehead. “We can do that again once we get tothe hotel.”
She lowered her gaze.
Slipping a finger under her chin, he liftedher head. “Anna, I will get you a separate room. I don’t want youto think we have to stay together. Though I want to, more thananything, I’d never force you or make you uncomfortable.”
“I know you wouldn’t force me.” She lookedup at him. “I’ve just never done this before—a one-night stand.”Her cheeks colored at the admission.
“Who said this was a one-night stand.” Hiscomment surprised him. Typically, one-night stands were all he did.But he didn’t think he wanted this to be one. He’d alreadyexchanged numbers with her, something he rarely did. In fact, heusually didn’t tell women his real name, where he worked or that heowned Dog Tired. It would be too easy for them to find him. Annawas the first girl in a long time that interested him enough toshare a little more of himself.
“It’s okay if it’s a hook up.” She smiled,then glanced away for a moment before staring back at him. “I’vejust never done this. That’s not saying I don’t want to.”
He slid a few strands of her hair behind herear. “This isn’t a topic that needs to be decided this second.” Hekissed her forehead again. Then he grabbed her hand and hersuitcase and headed to the exit.
He was eager to get her alone. Whether theyspent the night talking until they fell asleep or tangled in eachother, either idea excited him. And that was new for him.
