Flash Burned (Burned 2)

“But I had to spend all day pretending we weren’t going to end up in bed together tonight so I didn’t give myself away to your employees.” I speared him with a look, weary though I was. Perhaps a tiny bit tipsy from the Cristal and a work high, too. “Do you realize how hard it is to be so close to you in public and act as though we’re not getting naked in private?”

My fingers grazed his chiseled cheek, his set jaw. Along his neck and to that pulsating point in the hollow of his throat where I could lick and suckle for all of eternity and be one deliriously happy woman.

The errant thought made me giggle. I said, “I could literally eat you up.”

He groaned. “You know there’s nothing more that I want to do at the moment than make love to you. But, Ari”—he stared into my eyes—“I know exactly how much time and effort you put into today, and there’s no way in hell I’m sapping more energy from you because of my needs.”

“Really, put like that, you think I can resist you?”

With trepidation in his voice, he said, “Sleep now. Tell me how you feel in the morning.”

I groaned in protest and pulled away, falling back against the delectable mattress and its thick covers.

“My body is so ready.…” As always.

Dane chuckled. “And your brain is thoroughly fried.”

“Like … so much. I’ve literally forgotten everything outside of work. I haven’t even returned the last few calls from my dad. Thank God he knows how busy I’ve been so he’s not freaking out. I’ve missed a dental cleaning and a hair appointment. If Rosa didn’t pick up our dry cleaning for us, we’d be out of clothes by now.”

“It’ll all get back on-track soon. This has been a really big push the past month. And tonight, you just need to forget about everything and relax.”

He disappeared briefly to get our laptop bags and lock up while I rallied the strength to walk to the bathroom and take off my makeup, let down my hair.

Dane returned and he lit a fire in the hearth, then snuggled with me in bed. He reached back to the nightstand on his side and turned off the light. Silvery moonlight streamed through the tall trees filling the property and filtered through the unadorned floor-to-ceiling windows.

Spooning me—my favorite sleeping position—he held me tight to his hard body. I felt his heat … and his desire for me.

“Dane.”

“Shh.”

His embrace was firm and protective. Sweet and seductive. I grew restless by the second, despite how exhausting my day had been. And the weeks leading up to it.

“We didn’t really get to talk to each other tonight at the dinner,” I said in a sleepy voice.

“You’re the one who insisted on the seating placements,” he reminded me with a chastising tone. “I wanted you next to me. You—”

“Thought it was too obvious,” I said for him.

“And, now, I’m pretty sure everyone’s wondering if you’re with Kyle.”

I smiled, though he couldn’t see it. “That’s ridiculous. We argue like siblings. And I can’t possibly be the o

nly one who sees how you look at me. Even when you think it’s just a fleeting glance, it’s still wholly possessive.”

He was quiet for several moments. His warm breath blew against my neck. I cherished the intimate shelter Dane created with his hunky body curling around mine, tucking me against him.

“You think they all know how I feel about you?” he asked in a contemplative tone.

“No. Definitely not. I think they wonder why you bother by way of giving me rides and whatnot. My guess is, they surmise you’re remorseful that I was targeted when it came to the on-site troubles. Maybe they just believe you want to make it all up to me.”

Silence enveloped us again.

Honestly, I had no idea what people at the Lux thought of our association. To me, it seemed pretty contained. No easy feat when we naturally gravitated to each other.

I asked, “Does it matter?”

“I feel you’re better protected if we’re not romantically connected.”