“You’re not Priest,” I purr.
Cora doesn’t respond. She seems frozen in place, and I follow her gaze, realizing just what she’s staring at. “Fuck, hang on.” Slightly closing the door, I go in search of my jeans, finding them thrown over the bed. It takes me a minute to tug them over my wet legs, but I get it done.
Once the bottom half of me is covered, I return to the door, where Cora seems cemented on the other side.
“Come in, please,” I say, moving aside for her to enter.
Cora’s teeth sink into her lower lip. I’m sure she’s about to bolt, but finally, she snaps out of it and steps inside, closing the door behind her. I consider asking her to sit down, but the only option would be the bed. She already looks ready to run out of the room as it is, and the offer would likely have her running for the hills.
Though the raging arousal that’s been building up inside of me would very much like it if she sat there and let me make her mine.
“I was just in the shower,” I inform her, as if she couldn’t tell.
“I, uh… I noticed.” Her face is a delicious pink that makes her look even more beautiful. How did I not see how gorgeous she is? “I should’ve texted or called first, not shown up unannounced.”
“It’s fine, Cora.” Her usual unwavering confidence and sharp tongue are nowhere to be seen, but her eyes are still fixed on my bare torso. “Did you want something, or did you just come for the view?”
“I—” Her mouth hangs open in surprise as she tries to collect her thoughts enough to say something witty like she usually does. “I wasn’t even looking,” she lies, snapping her hand over her mouth.
Caught red-handed, darlin’.
“So you have a habit of showing up unannounced to a man’s motel room?” Grinning, I fold my arms over my chest. “You continue to surprise me, Cora.”
“No… I mean… Goddammit! Why is it so hard to talk to you?” She wrings her hands, and I find myself enjoying her obvious discomfort. “I came here because I want to apologize to you.”
I blink at her, confused. “Apologize? For what, exactly?”
She looks down at the floor now, her tone serious. “For the way I’ve treated you the last few days.”
Reaching out, I tuck a tendril of her long, dark hair behind her ear. “You don’t owe me anything, sweetheart. After what I said about you…” I shake my head, thoroughly ashamed. “I deserved every fucking second of your anger, and then some.”
She steps forward, close enough that I can smell her floral perfume. The scent is intoxicating, and I forget all about the arguments we’ve had and the nasty words we’ve exchanged. All I can think about is her hair loose around her shoulders like it is, and she’s still wearing those fucking shorts.
Get it together, asshole.
Her magnetic brown eyes look intensely into mine, scattering my thoughts. All I can think about is this woman.
Before I have a chance to even think about what I’m doing, my hand shoots out and grips the back of her neck, pulling her toward me. My lips come down and claim hers, sending me soaring.
I don’t often kiss the women I have sex with. Kissing has never been high on my list of things that rev my engine. But in this moment, that all changes, because Cora’s lips, and the softness of her body pressed against mine, consume me.
I want more. I need more. I want to get closer. I don’t even know if I can get close enough.
And then her fingers come up and twirl through my hair, gripping it tightly at the nape of my neck, and I know there’s no turning back.
CORA
My heart sputtersin my chest. Squeezing my eyes closed, I press my body closer to his. His chest is bare, still covered in droplets of water from his shower. My fingertips rest on his shoulder, and then move lower, over his chest and down along his washboard stomach.
His body is pure perfection. Equal parts hard, and as soft as the most expensive silk.
“God, Cora,” he mutters. Tearing his lips from mine, he trails searing hot kisses along the side of my neck. “You smell so fucking good.”
My head spins and I gasp, sucking in air.How did we get to this?
My train of thought disappears in an instant when his hands grip the hem of my T-shirt and whisk it up over my head.
My lightheaded swooning screeches to a halt. Suddenly, I feel exposed. Uncertain. I’d already heard his thoughts on my body, and here I am, standing in front of him in nothing but a purple lace bra and a pair of jean shorts.