Page 20 of Undertow

If I tell her beforehand to text her daughter, I run the risk of her getting cold feet and leaving. She’s all but admitted to being a bit wary of making decisions, so maybe it’s best to take it out of her hands and make the call for her.

We’ll both have a good time. She just needs to get out of her own way.

The room is dark when I scan the key and open the door. We have an ocean view with a little balcony where we can have breakfast in the morning if she stays. I bet she’ll like that.

Gemma’s holding my hand again. I can’t remember the last time I held hands with a woman, but she has held my hand several times tonight, and I kind of like it. It’s a trusting gesture of affection.

The thought whispers across my mind that I might be taking advantage of that trust right now. She made it pretty clear she didn’t want to sleep with me tonight, but I think I can change her mind. I don’t even think Ineedto change her mind. I know she’s attracted to me, even wants me, she just thinks she has her reasons not to do it.

I disagree. I don’t care about some tiff between our kids. That’s a ridiculous reason not to explore our obvious attraction to one another.

As soon as the door closes behind us, I let her get ahead of me. She dangles her purse and walks a bit unsteadily into the room, admiring the simple décor.

“I would’ve gone for a bigger room for an extended stay, but I figured we only really needed a bed tonight.”

She giggles and turns around to look at me with that lazy smile on her lovely face. “That sounds so naughty.”

I come up behind her, encircling her waist and taking her purse so I can set it aside on the wet bar. “Would you like a drink?”

“I think I’ve had more than enough to drink,” she assures me, leaning back into my embrace.

I pull her hair aside so I can bend to kiss her neck. As I do, I peel off her sparkly blazer and toss it aside, too.

“You’re undressing me,” she murmurs.

“Very astute.” I kiss her earlobe, and she shivers. Leaning back a bit, I kiss the ball of her shoulder, then work loose the button on the back of her blouse.

“You shouldn’t take off my top.”

“Why not?” I ask easily. “I’ve seen more than this already when you stormed into my office.”

She laughs at herself. “In my stupid belly dancing clothes.”

I smirk. “They weren’t stupid at all.” I tug the blouse down off her arms, then push it past her slim hips. I kneel to pull it the rest of the way, then unzip her skirt and pull that down, too.

“Wait a minute,” she murmurs, realizing she’s down to her bra and panties.

Rather than wait, I lean in and kiss her hip bone. She sucks in a breath. I kiss my way along her toned lower abdomen and don’t stop when I get to her panties.

Her sighs become bigger and heavier as I kiss my way from the top of her pantyline lower until I’m kissing her pussy through the fabric. I kiss the insides of her thighs, then return to her pussy, covering her with my mouth.

“Oh, Hayden,” she murmurs tremulously, her fingers sliding through my hair.

“Get on the bed,” I tell her, freeing my hair from her hands and rising.

She walks backward but hesitates before getting on the mattress, so I give her a little shove.

She’s too drunk for good reflexes, so she falls back against the soft bed with a little giggle.

I’m wearing too many layers of clothing, so I start stripping them off. Once I’m down to my boxer briefs, I join her on the bed, climbing on top of her and looking down at her.

Her big brown eyes are so open, so fond, I can’t resist kissing her.

I scarcely taste her lips at first, just a quick brush. Her lips are so soft beneath mine, and I want more, so I crush her with my weight, catching her moan in my mouth and tangling my fingers in her soft hair. Her instinct is still to shut me out, but I force my way past her lips and she gives immediately, making room for me and kissing me back as her hands come to rest on my back.

I want her tits free, so while I’m kissing her senseless, I shift her body beneath mine and reach back to unclasp her bra. The material gives, and I peel it away, tossing it on the floor behind us.

I don’t stop kissing her, so she doesn’t have a chance to object. My palm covers the soft globe and she exhales sharply, but I catch it on my lips and make her go right back to kissing me without giving her a chance to breathe.

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