Harden My Hart (The Notorious Harts 3)

I lift a brow. ‘I just got here ten minutes ago.’

She shakes her head so her chestnut hair lifts with the breeze. ‘I mean in Australia.’

Oh, right. ‘Yeah.’

She nods slowly, her brow knitting like that tells her pretty much nothing.

‘And you’re...here why?’

As soon as she asks the question I realise I’m here partly because of her, and this. Because I needed to see her again. Sure, there are meetings I need to have, but I could have Skyped those. And I’ve seen Felicity now, ticked that box. There’s no reason for me to still be here in Australia—except one.

Cora.

‘I’ve got some business at the casino.’ The words give away nothing of my realisation; they’re dutifully laid-back and noncommittal.

Her smile is enigmatic and so familiar it’s like being punched in the gut. I have this sense that she’s laughing at me.

‘I mean here, where I’m staying.’

I look towards the building, but I feel her eyes stay on my face as though she’s touching me. It’s a nice place. Old, probably late nineteenth century, possibly early twentieth, with distressed bricks, a little Juliet balcony and several pot plants boasting geraniums, lavender and a bonsai lemon.

‘Holden?’

I angle my face towards her. Cora is the first woman I’ve ever wanted more than once. I don’t know what it is about her but I want to fuck her out of my system.

‘Why do you think?’

Her pulse races. I see the flesh at the base of her throat tremble. Her eyes widen, her lips part. I take a step forward so our bodies are just an inch apart.

‘I—’ Her tongue traces the outline of her lower lip. I want to suck it into my mouth.

‘Have you been thinking about me?’

Her eyes drop—all the answer I need. At least the fever is not mine alone.

‘I’ve been... You’re not...’

Another step forwards. Now our bodies touch. I feel her soft, sweet breasts crush to my chest and stifle a groan. ‘Yes?’ The word is dragged from me, demanding and raw.

‘Yes.’ She lifts her face to mine, staring at me so I feel a sharp stab of relief. ‘I never do that—sleep with guys I barely know. Of course I’ve been thinking about you. Wondering why it happened.’

My smile is a cynical twist of my lips. ‘And did you work it out?’ I lift my hands to her hips, holding her there for a second before letting them slide around her back, pushing them inside her jeans, curving around her arse and dragging her against my cock.

‘Holden!’ The word sounds aghast and laced with needs all at once. ‘People will see.’

‘And you don’t like public sex,’ I tease, remembering her saying that on the flight.

‘I...’ Her cheeks flush pink and I suspect she might be warming to the idea.

‘Then invite me in.’

A soft groan escapes her mouth. I drop my head, catching it in my own, my lips colliding with hers, my tongue teasing her tongue, my hands staying right where they are, cupping the naked flesh of her butt, only I grind my hips forward, pressing my cock against her clit, clothing no encumbrance to showing her pleasure. She whimpers in my arms. I smile against her mouth but it’s a grim smile because, in the back of my mind, I told myself I wouldn’t use Cora like this. She’s different, and she deserves better than to act as a form of lobotomy.

My cock disagrees.

‘Where are your keys?’

Her hand comes between us, so close to my cock I pause for a second, wondering if she’s going to touch me right here on the street. But she’s feeling around for her keys. I hear them jangle between us. Relief shifts through me.