Laurel’s lips softened under his, her breath catching, her hand curling against his chest. But she pulled back just enough to murmur against his mouth, “Who's deflecting now?”
He drew back half an inch, arching a brow. “You want me to stop?”
She didn’t hesitate. Her smile was wicked, her gaze heated.
“Hell no.”
As if to prove it, she grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him back to her.
And just like that, the storm passed.
For now.
He was under no illusions that this formidable woman would let it go indefinitely.
Laurel’s lips found his again, soft and certain, and that was it.
Whatever threads of control he’d started to gather unraveled in an instant. She kissed like she meant it, as if she wasn’t afraid of how deep this thing between them might go.
And hell, he didn’t want her to be.
His slid his hands along her waist, securing her on his lap, her body straddling his. She threaded her fingers into his hair, tugging just enough to drag a low sound from his throat. It wasn’t a kiss this time—it was a pull, like gravity had finally made up its mind. And when her tongue brushed his, the last of his restraint slipped away.
She shifted in his lap, gasping when their bodies aligned again, and heat blazed through his veins. Bennett tightened his grip, splaying one hand at the base of her spine as his mouth left hers and found the curve of her neck.
God, the way she tasted…
Laurel tilted her head back with a breathy moan, giving him more access as his lips found that soft, perfect spot just beneath her jaw. The one that had undone her in the shower.
She was already trembling again. His name slipped from her lips on a whisper, and she tugged his shirt up to skim her nails across his skin.
She wanted this.
And so did he.
He pressed a kiss to her throat, then dragged his mouth down to her collarbone. Her hands fumbled between them, tugging at the hem of his shirt. He broke the kiss and pulled back just enough to yank it over his head and toss it aside.
Her gaze slid over him, dark and wild, full of the heat burning him up inside. With a growl, he reached for her, his mouth just about to claim hers again when—
Knock. Knock. Knock.
They both froze.
A pause. Then another knock, firmer this time.
Laurel’s head dropped forward, forehead pressing to his bare shoulder as she groaned. “Are you freakin’ kidding me?”
Bennett bit back a curse and exhaled hard. “Apparently not.”
She laughed, soft, breathless, a little frustrated, and rolled off his lap with reluctant grace. He stayed seated for a second, hands braced on his thighs, willing his pulse and other parts of him to settle.
Whoever the hell was on the other side of that door better be bleeding.
“Want me to get it?” she asked, shifting her top back into place.
He stood and grabbed his shirt off the floor, already tugging it back over his head. “No. I’ve got it.”
Laurel gave him a sideways glance, her smile returning with slow, wicked charm. “You gonna scare them off with that expression?”
