Page 8 of Brick
His mouth touched hers, firm yet featherlike.His heady, masculine scent floated to her nostrils.Leather and spice, a dangerously seductive aroma.
She brought her hand to his neck and pulled him closer over the console.The wall of his chest brushed her breasts, making her ache to rip off her shirt and bring them skin to skin.
His lips parted and his wet tongue glided over hers.She groaned, deepening the kiss.His hand came to rest at her waist.
God, she wanted him.
Brick had the odd effect of making her feel safe.Which was outrageous considering he was a stranger.He hadn’t pried, he hadn’t pushed...yet when she’d mentioned her ex, his face had darkened with an unspoken language.
Protectiveness.
Part of her wanted to bare it all.To tell him the sordid details of her life story, but not only would that send him for the hills, she simply didn’t have the time nor energy.No, this time with Brick was sacred.She wouldn’t tarnish it.
She pulled away, panting.“Can we go up to your room now?”Good lord, was that her voice that sounded so desperate?
Inches away, Brick’s chest rose and fell.“I’m ready when you are.But if there’s someone you want to text or call to let them know where you are and who you’re with, I’m fine with that.Because as happy as I am that you want to hang out with me longer, I hope to hell you’d be careful with a stranger.”
She rolled her lips together, once again struck by his thoughtfulness.Then her cheeks burned.Now she really feared he thought her desperate—he was the one slowing her down and making sure she made wise decisions.“I mean...I was supposed to text my sister anyway,” she managed.
He chuckled.“Take your time.”
She reached for her purse on the passenger seat, a tentative smile on her face.“Not that I think you’re a serial killer or anything,” she added.
“I’m not.But stranger things have happened.”
She texted Ellie to let her know she’d met someone for dinner and was visiting his hotel, then provided the address.All the while, her hands shook with need.A deep pulse, low in her belly, filled her with expectation.It’d been so long since a man had shown her so much kindness—the less he pushed her, the more she pulled.
Ellie immediately replied, but she ignored it.“She’s not going to let me live this down,” she said with a chuckle.
Brick laughed and got out.She followed and met him in front of the car.
“Tell me more about your sister,” he said, as they walked to the hotel lobby.Although he sounded genuine, she suspected he was trying to prevent awkward silence from wedging itself between them.
She shrugged.“Ellie and I are really close.”She shot him a withering look.“So if you kill me, she’ll hunt you down.”
He lifted his hands.“Hey, I offered breakfast at the airport.If either of us is a serial killer, it’s you.You strong-armed me to take you to my hotel.”
She rolled her eyes.“The one time in my life I come on strong and it just happens to be with the dude who’ll throw it back at me.”
He winked.“I take it back.Come on as strong as you like, darling.”
Heat crawled up her neck, warming her cheeks.They walked through the lobby and reached the elevators.In moments, they landed on the eighth floor and the doors whooshed open.He led her to room814, took out a key card, and flashed it in front of the sensor.The lock beeped and turned green and he pushed open the door.
A neat and tidy space met her.The large king bed took up most of the room, and the window overlooked downtown.
“Can I take your coat?”His hands came to her shoulders and lightly touched the material.
She nodded.
His fingers brushed down her arms as he helped her shrug out of the jacket, which he hung in the closet next to his.“Do you want anything?Coffee?Tea?”
The fact he didn’t offer booze made any doubt left inside her shrivel right up.She moved closer to him, bringing her front to his.
Brick stiffened, then his hands went to her back.One large palm splayed over the curve in her spine.
“Is that what you brought me here for?Tea?”she asked, as she let her body mold against the strong contours of his.
He reached up to thread a hand through her hair.The feel of his rough callouses against her scalp sent tiny shockwaves over her nerve endings.
