Strip Search (Tap That)

“I’d like to be friends.” He shifted, placing his hand on the small of her back so he could lean closer to her. “I’d like to be more than friends. So, what do you think? Are we doing this thing or what?”

She stared at him, eyeing him with naked curiosity. “What thing are you referring to?”

He rubbed his thumb over her lower back. “You. Me. Telling the world we’re a couple.”

Axl couldn’t think of anything more perfect than getting an entire week with her, no strings attached. Sure, it was mildly insane

to let people think he was getting married. But once Leighton went home to LA and they staged a breakup everyone in his life would just be relieved because they would all think he was nuts for getting “married” on impulse. They would get off his back about not dating for years after something like this. The thought of buying time without nagging sounded fucking awesome.

He and Leighton would have fun. Have great sex. He’d save his ass at work and get his promotion to detective. She would keep her TV job.

What could go wrong?

“This is the most bananas thing I’ve ever done, but… yes,” she said. “Let’s do this.” She fanned herself like the thought made her anxious.

His cock jumped, happy with her answer. “Then let’s kiss to seal the deal.”

She lowered her lashes and gave him a very sweet, very sexy smile. “I thought a handshake was how business deals are sealed.”

“And they also say don’t mix business with pleasure but I fully intend to ignore that.” Axl brushed her blonde hair back off her face and cupped her cheek. “I’ve been thinking about your lips all day.”

* * *

Leighton had been doing the same. She hadn’t been able to get that kiss up against her rental car out of her head all day. Having Axl gaze at her was like every fantasy she’d ever had springing to life. He was so damn intense. He looked at her like he was hungry for her. Like she was the only thing he saw right at that moment.

It made her feel appreciated. As if she was his only focus when he was talking to her. It was sexy as hell. He was sexy as hell. This didn’t feel real. She didn’t garner attention like this normally.

Her dating life had consisted of men who might be categorized as hipsters. She had always been drawn to glasses over biceps. Besides, muscle men were never into her. She was considered overweight by California standards and the one time a very fit guy had asked her out, he had spent the whole dinner date encouraging her to take up hiking, biking, running, and rock climbing. It had been annoying because she hated all those things and had no intention of ever pretending to like them.

Axl didn’t look like he wanted to get her into the gym. He looked like he wanted to get her into bed.

“You’re going to kiss me again, aren’t you?” she asked, because she had basically implied she didn’t want him to and now was regretting that more than anything ever in the history of her life.

“Absolutely. Unless you tell me you don’t want me to. Say no and I will keep my lips to myself.”

His hand on her back was very distracting. It was a light touch but my God, his hand was huge. It spanned almost the entire width of her lower back. The teasing strokes gave her goosebumps and her nipples had hardened. It was ridiculous that he could draw that kind of reaction from her with such light contact.

“I want you to,” she said because everyone back home was always telling her they were living their best life and damn it, she wanted to live her best life.

She was one hundred percent certain her best life involved being kissed by Axl Moore.

He erased the distance between them and took her mouth in a sexy, deep kiss.

Actually, her best life probably included sex with this man.

Because the things his mouth did to her with a simple kiss were amazing and she couldn’t even imagine how she could survive without knowing what it felt like to have him inside her.

Zach was right. She needed to get naked with Axl.

She practically owed it to herself.

Without any hesitation, she parted her lips for him and his tongue swept inside, teasing and tangling with hers. She closed her eyes and lost herself in the feel of their embrace. He had a manly scent. Like wood chips and skin. Just masculine and sexy as hell. She had read once that if you don’t like your partner’s scent you have a fifty percent higher chance of splitting up. Axl would have passed that test with flying colors. He smelled so much like a man should smell she wanted to lick him everywhere.

Her thoughts were so wild and scattered that she wrapped her arms around his neck to ground herself. To hold on to him. She was leaning forward, wanting more of him. All of him. His grip on her back tightened and his thigh pressed against hers. They were kissing deeper, more passionately, and she wanted him. All of him. She sighed, giving a little gasp when he unexpectedly nipped at her bottom lip.

“Leighton,” he murmured.

She pulled back and opened her eyes. “Yes?” Oh, my God, whose voice was that? She sounded like a porn star. Breathy and excited.