“Better?” He shook his head. “Smarter for you, for both of us, yes, but not better.”
She knew exactly what he was implying. And what she wanted. To let herself go. To accept the comfort he was offering, even though she barely knew him. He’d helped her today, done everything he could to find Hannah. He wasn’t really a stranger anymore. He was somebody she could rely on. More than she’d ever been able to rely on any of her previous lovers or boyfriends. Didn’t that make him a friend? And friends could give each other comfort, hold each other for a moment. That was all it would be. Just a short embrace at the end of a long night.
Whether she stepped closer to him or whether Blake leaned in, she wasn’t entirely sure, but suddenly her face was only inches from his, and his arm was coming around her waist, bringing her hips flush to his, her body connecting with his.
The first thing she felt was the heat emanating from him, from every part of him: his hand on her lower back, his pelvis brushing against hers, and his breath ghosting over her face. Then he drew her closer and his heartbeat seemed to reverberate in her body, echoing the rapid drumming of her own.
“I should let you go,” he murmured, his mouth coming closer.
“Don’t.” She slid her hand onto his nape, feeling him shiver. “Please don’t.”
~
Her tender plea sank deep into him, settling in his groin, adding fuel to the fire that raged there. He’d promised himself not to act on it, but when she’d touched his cheek, he’d thrown all his good intentions out the window.
“As if I could.” He whispered the words against her red lips, lips that had tempted him all night. Lips that parted now in invitation.
Damn it, he had no chance of resisting now. She held all the cards. And she was practically begging him to kiss her. He wasn’t the predator in this game; wasn’t coercing her into something she didn’t want. He wasn’t even seducing her; Lilo was seducing him. And while he held her in his vampire arms, arms she wouldn’t be able to escape unless he allowed it, she was the one who held him captive.
“As if I could escape you now,” he corrected himself and brushed his lips over hers.
The touch was electrifying. Her lips were warm and soft, yielding to him. He was hesitant at first, not wanting to spook her in case he’d interpreted her signs incorrectly.
“You want that?” he murmured.
She hummed, and the sound vibrated on his skin, making him shiver. Her fingers on his nape pulled him closer. There was no doubt now: she wanted him as much as he wanted her. All hesitation gone, he captured her mouth fully, dipping his tongue between her parted lips and stroking it against hers.
A spear of white hot heat shot through him, sending blood rushing to his groin. Fuck, this was worse than he’d expected. Worse, because at the rate he was getting aroused he’d have her flat on her back in about sixty seconds, thrusting into her in the middle of the hallway where the boys could surprise them at any moment.
But not even that thought could stop him from delving deeper into her, exploring her, tasting her. And, damn it, she tasted good. Felt even better. He angled his head to get better access, and she obliged him and did the same. She now lapped her tongue against his, demanding he kiss her harder.
For a moment, he tore his lips from hers. “Damn it, Lilo!” But despite the fact that her kiss was teasing the vampire inside him to emerge, he couldn’t stop. Crushing her mouth with his, he pressed her against the wall and pinned her there. Passion and lust surged within him, seeking an outlet. Breathing hard, he claimed her mouth more fiercely than he’d planned. Planned? Hell, he hadn’t planned this at all. It had just happened. One look into those cornflower-blue eyes, and he was lost.
Too late to do anything about it now.
He thrust his pelvis against her, feeling his hard-on rubbing along her stomach, cradling him with her warmth and softness. Tempting him to unleash the beast within him.