Under the Boardwalk (Costas Sisters 1)

“You’re a tease,” she told him, then let her tongue dart out and caress the outline of his mouth.

A low groan rumbled from deep in his throat and he pulled her against him. Having gone this far, Ariana wasn’t about to back down now. Hoping to take Quinn off guard, she slipped her tongue between his barely parted lips. Kissing him felt like coming home, a sensation and experience both foreign and welcome at the same time. She entwined her arms around his neck and pressed her breasts against his chest to ease the aching need building there. All the while his tongue tangled with hers, letting her know he wanted her every bit as much as she wanted him.

The kiss went on, long and leisurely one minute, more hot and demanding the next. Her stomach swirled with the exquisite sensations he created and her body craved his.

“Sweetheart, I think we’re making a scene,” he said, barely breaking the kiss.

“So?” Her blood flowed like warm liquid and she wanted more of the boneless feeling he provided. She wanted more of him.

“So we need to go upstairs.”

The next thing she knew, he had lifted her into his arms. Ignoring the shocked stares of the strangers around them, he carried her into the private elevator reserved for Damon’s closest associates. Soon she found herself in Quinn’s hotel room, and he lowered her to the bed.

“You need to relax and I’m going to make sure you do.” His voice held a determined edge as he maneuvered their positions so that she lay on her back, her head between his crossed legs. “Shut your eyes.”

This was one order she didn’t mind obeying, and she let her lashes fall. His fingers moved from her jawline to her forehead, and he began a steady massage of her temples. His touch was electric and she responded, her breasts tightening with need, while lower down, a pulsing of a different kind began between her legs.

“Breathe in,” he said in that deep voice that had mesmerized her from day one. “And out.”

Despite the desire flowing through her body, her mind responded to his request. For the first time since receiving a phone call about her missing twin, she let herself relax. She calmed down, feeling herself sinking deeper into the mattress as her tension eased. His caring caress nurtured the emptiness she’d been experiencing from being alone and being the only one doing something to find Zoe.

She wasn’t alone anymore. She had Quinn. And although he wasn’t revealing answers, he wasn’t leaving her to fall apart either. He nurtured her emotions as well as he fed her hunger. And she had a hunch that would be the next need to be filled.

Chapter Ten

Quinn watched Ariana sleep in the king-size bed in his hotel room. She’d taken him off guard with that heated kiss in the lobby, even more so by making him promise he’d remain hands on, not off. But no sooner had he begun to massage her temples in an attempt to relax her, than she’d fallen into a deep sleep, leaving her head in his lap and him completely aroused.

He’d moved her head to the pillows and covered her with the blanket, then stripped to his boxers and climbed in on the other side. He lay far from where she was curled into the pillow and far from temptation, because despite her seductive words, she needed sleep. Still, keeping his hands to himself wasn’t easy.

Neither was falling asleep, and as he turned on his side, he couldn’t help but stare. Although technically this wasn’t his bed, something about having Ari here with him felt too damn right. Her black eyelashes covered her paler skin and she slept peacefully. More so than he’d been able to manage since she’d unloaded her feelings on him earlier that night. He’d asked for it but that didn’t make the guilt and sense of responsibility he felt easier to bear.

The distinctive ring of a cell phone broke both his thoughts and the quiet around him. A glance at the nightstand told him his phone lay silent, and he realized the muffled sound came from inside Ari’s large purse. The phone rang again and she stirred. Not wanting her to awaken, he swung his legs over the side of the mattress and looked through her bag for the phone.

By the time he found it, the ringing had stopped and the display showed only MISSED MESSAGE with her mother’s phone number. He wasn’t sure whether or not to wake her, and glanced down at the items he’d removed from her purse. He couldn’t help but notice a crocheted pillow staring up at him with stitching that read Sisters and Best Friends 4 Ever.

Shit.

“Quinn? What are you doing up?” Ari’s voice called to him. “Come back to bed.”