Spying Under the Mistletoe (Love Undercover #2) - Stina Lindenblatt Page 0,51

distance between us.

“I want that too.” More than anything.

This time he does lower his mouth all the way.

Like before, the touch of his lips against mine is barely more than a brush, but it’s enough to ignite fireworks in my belly.

However, it’s not enough to chase away the goose bumps. Just the opposite.

He pulls back slightly to look into my eyes. Whatever he sees must be the only answer he needs. His mouth returns to mine, but this time it’s more than the gentle meeting of flesh.

This time it’s electric.

My lips part, allowing his warm wet tongue to invade my mouth, seeking, exploring. Tempting.

My tongue greets it, welcomes it with a slow dance of my own. Nothing about this kiss is fast and greedy. It’s about savoring the moment, not knowing if it’s the first and only real kiss we’ll share—or the first of many more to come.

I lift my hands to his neck and burrow my fingers in the short, soft strands of his dark hair, keeping him from ending the kiss too soon.

The fireworks in my belly from a few moments ago are nothing compared to now. I’ve experienced numerous firework displays over the years, from the big city ones of New York City ringing in the New Year, to the smaller ones, celebrating the Fourth of July.

None of them compares to the ones currently going off deep inside me.

Landon wraps his arms around me, pulling me closer. Our mouths are not the only parts touching. The full length of my body is pressed against his.

For the first time in forever, I feel wanted and protected.

I feel more than I should, and that scares me.

Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that it’s dangerous to feel this way.

It’s dangerous to bring my heart into things where it can so easily be broken. But right now, it doesn’t seem too concerned about that.

Maybe it should be.

What difference does it make? This isn’t a real relationship. Just enjoy the perks while you can.

They won’t last forever.

I have no idea how long Landon and I have been kissing when he finally pulls away. Possibly a few minutes. Possibly a few hours. I just know that the instant he steps back, both my body and mouth immediately miss him.

I also notice for the first time how cold the night air is. But I’m not willing to end this moment just yet.

I allow my gaze to drift to the sky as I search for that elusive shooting star.

If I could make a wish—a wish that would come true—it would be for this moment to never end.

It would be so that I’d never feel the bitter sting of rejection again from sharing my heart with a man.

But since the latter will never come true, I might as well hedge for something else.

Something that doesn’t matter which side of the law Landon is on—it’s only temporary.

I turn back to Landon and peer into his beautiful brown eyes, warm with flakes of gold. “I want you.”

18

Landon

It takes a second for Chloe’s words to sink in, and then I’m kissing her like we’ve just found out the world’s about to end—and this is the last kiss we’ll ever have. With anyone.

Eventually, we pull away and let everyone know that we’re heading home.

Like her, I’m eager to return to my place.

Eager to see what happens next.

But that’s the thing—nothing should happen next.

I’m an idiot.

Those three words keep thundering in my brain as I drive Chloe back to my town house.

Sure, we kissed. We had to—it was part of my cover as her boyfriend.

Or at least the kiss under the mistletoe was part of my cover. The kiss on the balcony? Not so much.

No one was watching us.

No one was expecting us to kiss.

The decision to do that was one hundred percent ours.

It’s wrong—but at the same time, it doesn’t feel wrong. Just the opposite.

We don’t say much on the drive home. Chloe found a radio station that’s already playing Christmas music, even though Thanksgiving isn’t officially over yet.

I try to focus on the music and not on what she and I will be doing soon, assuming she hasn’t changed her mind by the time we arrive. And it’s okay if she has.

It would probably be a good thing if she has, because hell if I can bring myself to deny her if she still wants me.

Chloe sings along with a Christmas song. She hits a few notes wrong but doesn’t seem to care. She sings her heart