"What if it's not a mistake?" She leans into my touch, her hand coming up to cover mine. "What if it's the one thing that makes sense in all this chaos?"
I don't have an answer for that. At least, not one that would deter her. Because the truth is, when I'm with her, when she looks at me like this, everything else fades away. The danger, the responsibility, the ghosts of past failures. All of it recedes, leaving only this moment, this woman, this undeniable pull between us.
"My brother is downstairs," I say, a last weak defense.
"I overheard your conversation. He’s in your office on the phone with the sheriff." She steps closer, eliminating the last space between us. "He'll be a while."
"Nova." Her name is both a warning and a plea on my lips.
"Finn." She mimics my tone, a small smile playing at her lips. "Stop overthinking this."
"One of us has to."
"No. One of us has to live in this moment instead of planning for every possible disaster."
Her hands slide up my chest to link behind my neck, her body presses against mine in a way that sends heat coursing through my veins. I should stop this. Should step back. Should remember all the reasons why this is a terrible idea.
Instead, my free hand finds her waist, pulling her closer as my mouth descends to hers in a kiss that contains none of the restraint of our first. This is hunger, pure and simple.
She makes a small sound against my lips, something between a sigh and a moan, and it unravels the last of my control. I back her against the wall, my body caging hers as the kiss deepens, becomes desperate, consuming.
Her hands tangle in my hair, pulling me closer as if she can't get enough, her body arching into mine with an eagerness that makes my head spin. I trail kisses down her neck, tasting the salt of her skin, breathing in the scent that's become as familiar as my own.
My last thread of control snaps like a taut wire. I slide my hand beneath her sweater, finding the warm, soft skin I've been dreaming about. She gasps against my mouth as my fingers trace upward, finally cupping her breast. The weight of it fills my palm perfectly, her nipple hardening against my touch even through the thin fabric of her bra.
"Finn," she breathes my name like a prayer, her hands fumbling between us, dropping to the waistband of my jeans.
When her fingers slip beneath the denim and wrap around my already hard cock, I nearly lose my mind. Her touch is electric, confident, and possessive all at once.
"Christ, Nova," I groan, pressing my forehead against hers. "We can't. Cade's downstairs."
She squeezes me gently, her eyes locked on mine. "He's a grown man. He'll understand." Her thumb circles the sensitive head, spreading the moisture gathering there. "It doesn't have to take long."
"That's not exactly a flattering proposition," I manage to say, even as my hips involuntarily push into her touch.
She smiles, wicked and knowing. "Let me show you what I mean."
Before I can process what's happening, she's working my belt loose, unzipping my jeans, and yanking them down along with my boxers. My cock springs free, hard and ready, and the sight of Nova on her knees before me is almost enough to end this before it begins.
"Nova, we shouldn't?—"
My protest dies in my throat as she takes me in her mouth. The wet heat of her is indescribable. She starts slow, teasing me with light kisses along my inner thighs, then soft licks around the tip that make my knees weak.
I brace one hand against the wall, the other tangling in her hair. Not guiding, just connecting, needing to touch her as she takes me apart with her mouth.
She looks up at me through her lashes, gauging my reaction as she takes me deeper, her hand working what doesn't fit in her mouth. The combination of her eyes on mine and her lips wrapped around my cock is the most erotic thing I've ever seen.
"Fuck," I breathe, fighting to keep quiet. "That feels incredible."
She hums in approval, the vibration sending shockwaves of pleasure through me. Her tongue swirls around the head before she takes me deeper, applying just the right amount of suction that has me seeing stars.
I know I should stop this. Know that my brother could finish his call any minute. Know that this crosses every professional line I've ever drawn.
But with Nova on her knees, looking up at me with those piercing eyes while she takes me into her mouth with obvious enjoyment, I can't find it in me to care.
She varies her rhythm, sometimes slow and teasing, sometimes faster and more intense, reading my body's responses with an intuition that's almost uncanny. When she hollows her cheeks and takes me deeper than before, I have to bite my lip to keep from making noise that would definitely alert Cade to what's happening upstairs.
"Nova," I warn, feeling the pressure building. "I'm close."
