Hide and Seek - Lara Adrian Page 0,64

penetrate. She was running out of options and out of time.

“Why did you do that?” A sob tore from her chest. “That cab could have killed you! You don’t even know me. You don’t even know whether I’m worth risking your life for. You idiot.” The last word barely made it over her lips, tears choking off her voice.

She felt his hand wrap around her wrist a moment later, pulling her to him. His arm came around her back, dragging her closer until she was captured between his spread legs, chest-to-chest with him.

He used his forefinger to tip her face up so she had to look at him. “Every life is worth saving.” He paused, smirking. “As for calling me an idiot: I’d like an apology for that.” His gaze dropped to her mouth.

Her breath instantly hitched, awareness permeating every cell of her body. Her pulse began to race, and perspiration slicked her skin.

“A really nice, long apology.” He dipped his head until his lips were floating just an inch above hers. “How about that apology now?”

His voice was drugging, his strong arm imprisoning her. His breath blew against her face, tempting her further.

“Just one kiss,” she murmured.

“Two. You called me an idiot twice.”

“Two then.”

The moment the last word left her mouth, she felt Nick’s lips on hers. At first the touch was soft and gentle, a mere brushing of skin on skin, of warmth sliding against warmth. Instinctively her lips parted as she took in his masculine scent, inhaling his aroma, taking it deep into her lungs. A pleasant shiver ran down her spine, making her tremble in his arms.

An appreciative hum came from his lips, reverberating against hers, the vibrations spreading a tingling sensation over her mouth and face.

She knew then that two kisses wouldn’t be enough to satisfy the sudden hunger that was growing inside her.

7

Nick tilted his head and captured Michelle’s lips fully, tasting her drying tears and her sweet breath. Her sudden emotional outburst had taken him by surprise, yet at the same time given him the chance to do what he knew he had to: get close to her so he could find out what she knew. He pushed the twinge of guilt that surfaced to the back of his mind. Deep down he knew this was wrong, but he couldn’t stop himself.

Seeing her die in his vision had been too real, and knowing that had he arrived only two seconds later, the vision would have come true, still sent chills down his spine. That was a feeling he couldn’t ignore. What he needed now—what they both needed—was a few moments of sheer and utter abandon. A brief celebration of life, of lust and passion, of tenderness and ecstasy. For a short while, he would forget what his real mission was and concentrate on only one thing: making the woman in his arms forget the fact that she’d narrowly escaped death today.

He wanted to shower her with passion, make her body hum with pleasure, and lose himself in her. Just for a short time. That part wouldn’t be a lie. It would be real and honest.

Nick ignored the pain in his side and focused only on Michelle, on the softness of her lips, the delicious taste of her mouth, the insistent strokes of her tongue as she dueled with him in a match that neither could win. Hunger was the word that came to mind when her hands dug into his shoulders, holding on to him for dear life as if she was afraid he’d toss her to the side.

He slid his hands down below her waist, feeling her firm ass through the thin fabric of her summer skirt. Goddamn it, was she wearing anything underneath that thin scrap of cotton? It felt like she was naked.

Nick growled involuntarily, intensifying his kiss, while he pressed her against his groin, where his cock was already as hard as a crow bar.

Michelle moaned into his mouth, her body stiffening for an instant. Yes, she could feel his erection, knew what was coming, because a kiss wouldn’t suffice now. He needed more from her. He needed to be inside her to make the horrors of the last hour vanish. To make him forget.

Impatiently, he slid his hands underneath the fabric of her skirt. He nearly jumped out of his pants when he felt bare skin beneath his fingers. He palmed her ass, exploring her, and realized she was wearing a thong. He should have known that a