Mind of Danger (Body of Danger #3) - Sidney Bristol Page 0,16

regain her footing.

Jo darted past him, around the corner and into the bathroom. That was when the sound of running water finally registered to his addled brain.

He peered into the bathroom.

Jo stood next to the soaker tub, stopper in hand, head tipped back and eyes closed.

The tub was maybe an inch from spilling over the ledge. Possibly less.

A pile of clothes sat on the tile. Clothes he recalled her wearing earlier.

Shit.

Jo glanced over her shoulder at him.

He stopped breathing.

She was beautiful. It wasn’t just her appearance; it was her inner strength. He’d never met anyone like her.

“That was almost a disaster.” She chuckled.

“Yeah,” he managed to croak out.

One side of her mouth hitched up. “Where were we?”

Jo turned, shrugging off the robe as she did so. The plush terrycloth fell to the floor leaving her in blue striped panties with lace along the hems—and nothing else.

“Holy...” His ability to form words vanished.

“Wow, if I knew you’d look at me like that I think I’d have done this sooner. A lot sooner.”

“This? Jo?” He held up his hands for some reason. What it was, he didn’t know.

She stopped a few feet away from him.

“Something wrong?” she asked.

“I don’t know...” His eyes drifted lower, to her breasts. Her nipples were a dusky brown shade. The way they’d tightened was fascinating.

“Elias?” She took the final step, closing the distance between them and laid her hand on his chest. “I want you.”

Those three words were powerful. They made his knees wobble. He felt them in the pit of his stomach. Questions and concerns whispered in the back of his mind, but her steady gaze silenced them.

Who was he to question her?

“Elias?”

“Hm?”

“Kiss me?”

That he could do.

Elias bent, meeting her mouth with his.

He wrapped his arm around her, palming her ass as he drew her closer to him. She went up on tip toe, pressing herself against him.

God, this was really happening. This wasn’t a dream.

He slid his hand down her back. How was it she could be both hard and soft?

Her tongue teased his, deepening the kiss.

Elias splayed his hands, one on either side of her ass. How many times had he wanted to do that? She had the best ass he’d ever seen. Firm. Round. Perfect fit in his hand.

He wanted to protect her. Be the guy who watched her back. That burning desire radiated through him, despite knowing he couldn’t do that for her.

A kiss? That he could do.

Jo tugged at his wrist. He let her guide his hand to her bare breast. Her softness filled his hand perfectly while her nipple was a hard contrast.

Elias broke the kiss to look at where her hand covered his over her breast. He glanced at her face and found her watching him. Her lips glistened, and she looked at him with eyes gone dark gray with lust.

He acted on instinct. It was something about the way she looked at him that pushed him over the edge.

In one move he picked her up and crossed to the bed. Once there, he gently tossed her onto the mattress. She fell back on her elbows, those dark eyes of hers still locked on his.

Elias went to a knee beside the bed. She had one foot hanging off the mattress. He bent his head and kissed the top of her ankle, the side of her calf and then her shin. Her other foot moved restlessly over the comforter. He took that as encouragement and continued, touching and kissing his way up one leg then the other. He had no idea if this was the right thing to do, but seeing as he might only get the chance to worship her body once, he intended to do it properly.

He pressed his lips to the top of her left thigh.

“Elias,” Jo moaned.

She grabbed him by his shirt and pulled.

He gave in, letting her drag him up her body. She hooked one leg over his hip and pulled him down for a kiss.

How many times had he wanted this? Right here?

Jo whimpered and arched her back. He covered her breast with his hand and her body relaxed.

She wanted him.

It wasn’t a reality he’d been prepared for. He’d never thought she might want him the same way. How much time had been lost?

He pushed that thought away.

Right now was about her.

He teased her nipples until she squirmed under him, panting against his lips. She was utterly beautiful with her hair spread out and her cheeks so very pink.

Did he take it a step