finger along each pleated opening of the vent, then moved away, seemingly satisfied
Once again his gaze travelled the room, pausing on the sofa.
He went from relaxed alertness to rigid readiness. Her gaze followed his as he looked down at the tool he carried and she saw a green LED flash. Rick slipped the bug detector into the back pocket of his jeans. With a few silent strides, he passed in front of her and stopped at the sofa, close enough that she could feel the warmth from his body.
Dread pinched at her.
He turned, wrapping his fingers around her elbow. The heat that shot up her arm barely registered as he drew her gaze to the sofa.
He pointed, and she stared for a moment without realizing what she looked at. Then... instead of the dark plaid-covered sofa button she expected to see, she saw a flat black button. Not a button, a bug. A listening device.
She turned, shock rippling through her. "Can they hear--"
He hauled her to him, his mouth crashing down on hers.
Katie stiffened, her eyes going wide. Hot, hard lips moved over hers as a shock wave jolted her body. Then she sagged against him. Just a little.
Half-formed thoughts tumbled around in her head. She might've imagined it, but for an instant she thought his lips softened, coaxing the strength out of her the way they used to. He lifted his head, his dark gaze smouldering on her lips then lifting to her eyes.
She blinked, swaying. A breathy sound escaped her, and a flush darkened Rick's skin.
He leaned toward her, and she couldn't form one rational thought. Just... Oh, yes.
Then his breath burned her ear, sent a shiver down her spine. "Don't talk."
Talk? She couldn't breathe . Her hands curled into fists, nails biting into her palms.
He skimmed his lips up her temple, back down to her ear. She began to tremble. And reason kicked in. She pushed at his chest; his hands tightened on her upper arms.
Again he whispered, barely audible, "That's a bug. Play along."
Aloud, he said, "Ten years and you can still do this to me."
His voice spilled over her like heated oil, torching a desire she'd buried too long. She knew it wasn't real, knew he didn't mean anything by it. Still her fingers curled into his T-shirt; she needed something to steady her legs.
His lips skimmed hers again. His hands smoothed down her back, flexed at her waist. Katie fought the urge to push away. She understood that he was playing for their unseen audience, but she shuddered anyway.
His lips came back to her ear, heat inching under her skin. "I found the camera, too. On the wall, four o'clock."
Why was he talking about the time? Oh, he meant somewhere on the wall. A deep breath sawing out of her, she turned her head to the right.
Long fingers captured her jaw, gently forced her head to his. Black eyes seared hers, and he whispered against her lips, "Sorry my four o'clock."
She nodded dumbly, her body pulsing almost painfully.
His hands curved over her hip, and his voice rumbled out. "I am so ready for you."
It was all an act for whoever was watching and listening, but it didn't feel like acting to Katie. Still she struggled to catch up, to be as cool as he was.
His eyes might be distant, but there was a flush beneath his skin. His breathing was slightly uneven.
He curled one knuckled under
Once again his gaze travelled the room, pausing on the sofa.
He went from relaxed alertness to rigid readiness. Her gaze followed his as he looked down at the tool he carried and she saw a green LED flash. Rick slipped the bug detector into the back pocket of his jeans. With a few silent strides, he passed in front of her and stopped at the sofa, close enough that she could feel the warmth from his body.
Dread pinched at her.
He turned, wrapping his fingers around her elbow. The heat that shot up her arm barely registered as he drew her gaze to the sofa.
He pointed, and she stared for a moment without realizing what she looked at. Then... instead of the dark plaid-covered sofa button she expected to see, she saw a flat black button. Not a button, a bug. A listening device.
She turned, shock rippling through her. "Can they hear--"
He hauled her to him, his mouth crashing down on hers.
Katie stiffened, her eyes going wide. Hot, hard lips moved over hers as a shock wave jolted her body. Then she sagged against him. Just a little.
Half-formed thoughts tumbled around in her head. She might've imagined it, but for an instant she thought his lips softened, coaxing the strength out of her the way they used to. He lifted his head, his dark gaze smouldering on her lips then lifting to her eyes.
She blinked, swaying. A breathy sound escaped her, and a flush darkened Rick's skin.
He leaned toward her, and she couldn't form one rational thought. Just... Oh, yes.
Then his breath burned her ear, sent a shiver down her spine. "Don't talk."
Talk? She couldn't breathe . Her hands curled into fists, nails biting into her palms.
He skimmed his lips up her temple, back down to her ear. She began to tremble. And reason kicked in. She pushed at his chest; his hands tightened on her upper arms.
Again he whispered, barely audible, "That's a bug. Play along."
Aloud, he said, "Ten years and you can still do this to me."
His voice spilled over her like heated oil, torching a desire she'd buried too long. She knew it wasn't real, knew he didn't mean anything by it. Still her fingers curled into his T-shirt; she needed something to steady her legs.
His lips skimmed hers again. His hands smoothed down her back, flexed at her waist. Katie fought the urge to push away. She understood that he was playing for their unseen audience, but she shuddered anyway.
His lips came back to her ear, heat inching under her skin. "I found the camera, too. On the wall, four o'clock."
Why was he talking about the time? Oh, he meant somewhere on the wall. A deep breath sawing out of her, she turned her head to the right.
Long fingers captured her jaw, gently forced her head to his. Black eyes seared hers, and he whispered against her lips, "Sorry my four o'clock."
She nodded dumbly, her body pulsing almost painfully.
His hands curved over her hip, and his voice rumbled out. "I am so ready for you."
It was all an act for whoever was watching and listening, but it didn't feel like acting to Katie. Still she struggled to catch up, to be as cool as he was.
His eyes might be distant, but there was a flush beneath his skin. His breathing was slightly uneven.
He curled one knuckled under
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