here, then.” He tugged me along as he hurried toward the front double doors. I laughed, exhilarated by the weight of our troubles being lifted. We could finally—for now—just be Reese and Dez. A normal couple.
Once inside, I gaped, taking in the gorgeous interior as we crossed the black and white swirled marble floor. The hotel was breathtaking. Sandstone pillars decorated the lobby while gold leafing feathered the walls above their arches. Panels of burgundy velvet draped giant stained glass windows, surrounding me in a cocoon of gothic beauty. My hand skimmed the mahogany banister as we climbed the spiral staircase to the top level.
When we reached our room, Reese pulled a gold key from his pocket. I eyed him. “Hey, you already have the key. How did you know I’d agree?”
His grin widened. “I didn’t.” The lock clicked, and he swung the door open. “But a guy can hope.”
I didn’t have time to look around the room. As soon as I stepped over the threshold, Reese seized my waist and lifted me into his arms, his lips meeting mine hungrily. I laughed, but the sound was muffled. I locked my legs around his hips, and he kicked the door closed.
He walked us across the room until my back hit the wall. His body surged with heat as his hands slid along my thighs, under my bustle. My breath hitched.
I thought Reese was passionate when we were together at the falls, but this was different. He’d been holding back then, not allowing himself to act. Now, he wasn’t. The force and desperation with which he kissed me—the feel of his hands heating, gripping—was overwhelming. And my breath struggled to keep up with the emotion.
He anchored me to the wall with his body. Removing his hands from my legs, he brought my arms up and pinned them on either side of me as he buried his head into the crevice of my neck. His teeth elongated and softly grazed my skin. Fire ignited between my thighs, and I sucked air into my lungs.
“Sorry,” Reese mumbled, slowing himself. “Like, weeks…all at once.” He lifted his head and stared at me. His eyes blazed red. Then he pressed his forehead to mine.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, urging him closer. “Don’t stop,” I whispered.
His breath shuddered out against my lips, making me shiver. He dropped my arms, grasped my face, and pressed his lips to mine, hard. Then he caressed my chest, feeling along the binding of my corset as his fingers worked at the small clamps. When the stubborn bottom half wouldn’t cooperate, he groaned and pulled the corset apart. “I’ll buy you a new one.” He pushed off the wall and carried me to the bed.
The soft down comforter engulfed me, and his eyes traced my body. Then he lowered himself, placing delicate kisses along my stomach, inching his way up. My skin prickled, and I took shallow, unsteady breaths as his lips trailed over my skin until finally meeting my mouth again.
I became lost…lost in the moment and in him. His hand glided under my bustle, pausing just before his fingers crept under the hem of my underclothing…
BANG!
I flinched.
Reese broke the kiss, and our eyes darted toward the front of the room. I instinctively covered my chest.
The knob hung loosely, knocking against the door as a dark figure stood in the frame.
Reese shot up. “What the hell…” But his words faltered as Jace rushed into the room.
Chapter Twenty-Five
JACE SHOT A BOLT of Charge, and Reese ducked, rolling off the bed and bringing me with him. I dropped to the floor, hard. Reese covered me. His body hovered, shielding me as he quickly looked me over. When he was sure I was all right, he bounded to his feet.
Jace grabbed Reese’s leather collar and slammed him against the wall. “Get the hell away from her!”
I forced my corset together and hugged it closed. Jumping to my feet, I snapped a couple of the top clamps and rushed toward them. “Jace, what are you doing?”
“Dez, get out of here. Now!” He punched Reese.
My mind reeled. Shit! Before they could tear each other apart, I wrapped my arms around Jace and tried to pry him away, but he pushed me off.
“Get downstairs,” Jace ordered and attempted to punch Reese again, but Reese blocked it and delivered a hard knock with his free hand.
I backed away, my eyes searching. I couldn’t release my power here like the last time. This was a public