With that he winked out of existence, making me wonder what the hell was happening. Or was he the same as ever, and it was me who was the problem? Or rather, my habit of reading far more into his words and actions than was intended?
I sighed, then dried my hands and headed across to the Hilton, taking a room for the night. Then, once inside, stripped off and slept the sleep of the dead—for a whole three hours. It wasn’t anywhere near enough, but at least it took the edge off my exhaustion.
I freshened up again, then pulled on my dress, smoothing its silky sides over my curves so that they clung like a second skin. I didn’t bother with underclothes—I might have bought them, but they were too nice to sacrifice if Lucian did go through with his threat.
Anticipation throbbed in a low-down ache as I left the room and walked—limped, given my leg was only half healed and still sore—across to the airport.
Naturally, his plane was late. I grabbed some breakfast—deciding on pancakes smothered with bananas and caramel sauce, simply because I figured I’d need the calories in the hours to come—and munched on it while I watched the screens and wondered if it were actually possible to burst with frustration.
His plane finally pulled in thirty-five minutes late. I leaned against a concrete pillar, scanning the disembarking passengers, my limbs trembling with anticipation. Damn, this was bad. The next time he went away, I needed to get to Franklin’s at least once.
Eventually, I saw him. He towered over those nearest him, his hair gleaming like finely spun gold in the airport’s harsh overhead lighting. His gaze scanned the waiting crowd and—when his green eyes met mine—a bright smile lit his face.
I pushed away from the pillar and walked across to him, loving the way he moved—like a sleek cat that had its quarry in sight. He dropped his bag onto the floor next to me, wrapped his arms around my waist, then kissed me.
It was heat and passion and desire, but his kisses also transcended all that, becoming something far more powerful and unearthly. Electricity surged between us, swirling around our flesh, through our flesh, until it seemed our flesh had disappeared and we were nothing more than night and air and energy. It was amazing. Truly amazing. And it was all I could do not to beg him to take me here and now.
When we finally parted, I could barely breathe and my legs felt like water.
He smiled as his hands slid from my waist. "I did so miss your lips."
I arched an eyebrow and said teasingly, "Just my lips?"
"And your neck, and your breasts, and your waist, and your—" He paused as his hands slid over my rump, and a fierce light flared in his eyes as he pulled me even closer. His erection, thick and hard, pressed against my belly, making me wish there weren’t several layers of clothing separating us. His lips brushed my ear as he murmured, "Is it too much to hope that you’ve reserved a room at the Hilton? Otherwise, I might just be tempted to cause a major scene."
I laughed, cupped his face with my hands, and kissed him fiercely but quickly. "Luckily for everyone in the terminal, I did have such foresight. Do you have any luggage to collect?"
"No," he said, grabbing my hand as he bent to pick up his bag with the other. "Shall we go?"