The Girl Next Door (Shadow Agents 6)

“And every time I even think about closing my eyes, guess what I see?” Those dark chocolate eyes were wide and on him. “It’s not exactly an image that makes me want to hit the dream circuit.”

Her fingers were trembling. Her body held too tightly, too stiffly.

He faced her once more. “The rush. You still have adrenaline spiking through you.”

Her hands fisted. “The shower didn’t exactly stop that. It didn’t do anything to calm me down.”

No. He took a step toward her. “I told you before, I can help with that.” Adrenaline still coursed through his own blood—adrenaline and fury. The rogue had gone after her.

Gabrielle shook her head. “I don’t want a drink. The whiskey didn’t work for me last time.”

Her lips were red and full, and that little quiver of her bottom lip made him want to kiss her, to feel that quiver beneath his own mouth. “Forget the drink,” he said, voice rumbling, “I’ve got something else in mind.”

Something that he’d needed, wanted...

He took another step toward her. She didn’t back away.

But her gaze did drop to his mouth.

“Cooper...”

He loved the way she said his name. Not with fear or hesitation but with need, a yearning to match his own.

His fingers slid under her chin. He tipped her head back. “Once wasn’t enough.” One kiss had done nothing but stir his appetite for her.

They were alone. Safe. Adrenaline could be turned into passion so easily.

His head lowered.

She rose onto her toes and her hands—now unclenched—pressed to his chest.

The first touch of his lips against hers was tentative. Easy. A hard task when the desire pumping through him was dark and demanding.

He wanted her on the bed. He wanted her naked. He wanted to hear her scream his name.

One step at a time.

Because before he got what he wanted, Cooper needed to seduce her.

Her mouth parted beneath his.

He took the kiss deeper. Swept his tongue past her lips and tasted her. Sweet. So sweet. She could easily become an addiction to him.

The kiss grew harder as the desire beat in his blood. His hand slipped from her chin and sank into the rich fullness of her hair.

The bed is so close.

He found himself backing her toward the bed. Still kissing her, only now the kiss was deep and hard and it still wasn’t enough.

He wasn’t sure he could get enough from her.

His mouth pulled from hers, and he began to kiss her neck. Her scent filled his nostrils. Lilacs. His aroused flesh pressed hard against the front of his jeans.

“I don’t...do this...” Her voice was husky. Her nails bit through the fabric of his shirt. “I don’t...I don’t just jump into bed with men I don’t know.”

He stilled at that and looked at her. “You know me.”

“I’ve lived upstairs from you for months.” She licked her lips.