Page 19 of Built of Illusions

At the moment, he wanted her to need him. To want him.

Unable to resist the curious eyes, the pretty mouth, and the smart mind, he flicked his gaze from her eyes to her mouth and back again.

She didn’t back away. Instead, she smiled until it reached her eyes. Instead of the fear and wariness he’d seen when he’d first entered, he saw the desire pounding through his veins looking right back at him.

He lowered his mouth and brushed his lips over hers. Her small intake of breath resounded in his ears and his chest.

Nico tried to keep the kiss light. But Josie tugged on his tie to bring him down.

When her mouth opened beneath his, Nico dove in. Their tongues danced and dueled. Josie tasted like the cinnamon tea and something chocolate. He was addicted after his first sample.

Josie wore a paint-splattered t-shirt and miles of legs. He assumed she wore shorts as well. Tiny shorts that hid beneath the shirt.

Nico murmured against her lips, “Hang on,” then boosted her to sit on the island.

She immediately widened her legs for him to step closer and he didn’t hesitate. Now they were closer to eye level and he checked her eyes, looking for doubts or regrets.

Instead, Josie grinned, then used his tie to pull him forward again. Every time he looked at this tie, he would remember the sparkle and the thrill of that first taste of her.

For now, he leaned in and tasted her again. His hands flexed where they held her hips. She squirmed at his touch and he ached to touch a whole lot more.

When they needed to breathe, he took his mouth on a tour, starting with the pulse beating wildly in her throat and working his way down to her collarbone and back up to her ear. Her soft sighs and squirms told him exactly how and where she liked to be touched. He wouldn’t have any trouble remembering those facts.

Finally, Nico let his hands start to drift. Josie leaned in closer and they continued to kiss. His hands cruised over her thighs and to the hem of the t-shirt.

When he played with the hem, Josie gasped and scooted back. “Wait, stop. I’ve been painting. I’m covered in paint. Your suit, your tie. They’ll get ruined.”

Her horror made him laugh. Without looking down at his clothes, he leaned in and kissed her lightly. “Worth it. Besides, that’s what dry cleaners are for.”

Eyebrows up, she grimaced. “I’ve never even been inside a dry-cleaners before. They’re probably expensive.”

Nico shrugged. “As long as they get things clean without ruining the materials, they’re worth it.”

She didn’t appear convinced.

Nico didn’t want her thinking about dry cleaners. He didn’t want her thinking about anything other than him and pleasure.

He trailed his fingers along her thighs, brushing the edge of her paint splattered shirt. She shivered and her eyes moved back to his lips. “But—”

Nico captured the rest of her protest in a kiss and it was only a moment before Josie’s arms looped around his shoulders. She played with his hair with one hand and kept his head in place with the other.

Nico continued to brush his fingers along her thighs. The soft skin was enticing and he wanted to find more of it. When he edged his fingers higher, Josie squirmed on the counter, pulling herself closer to the edge.

When he moved his hands up, he realized she wasn’t wearing shorts, only something lacy. “Holy hell, Josie. Are you trying to kill me here?”

Her laugh was soft, husky, and sexy as hell. “I wasn’t expecting company.”

He rested his forehead against hers and traced along the edges of the panties. “I’m not company.”

Josie smirked. “You’re right. Most times, company doesn’t—”

Whatever she’d been about to say trailed off as Nico’s phone rang. He huffed out a breath, kissed her forehead, and straightened to check his phone. FBI agents weren’t ever really off the clock and ignoring the phone generally wasn’t an option.

It wasn’t Roman and it wasn’t about their current case, but an FBI buddy in Hawaii who was working on one of his own. With a grimace, he opened the phone. “Give me five and call me back.”

“You got it.”

He shoved his phone back in his pocket, but didn’t step away from Josie. Her hands were gripping the countertop. “Do you think it’s another girl?”

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