Page 28 of Forever a Thief

I set it down on a nearby table, tilt my head and pretend to count. “Enough to be feeling really good, but not enough to cloud my judgment.” I send him a crooked smile. “Although when it comes to you, I am a little partial.”

“Partial to what?”

“To your amazing green eyes, sexy dimples, impressive fashion sense…” Yes, dimples. Plural. At first, I thought he just had the one on his left cheek, but then realized when he’s truly happy and doesn’t hold back, he has a complete set. Sexy as hell, too. I grip the lapels of his jacket and tow him closer. My voice drops, turning husky. Seductive. “The way your mouth moves against mine. How you so effortlessly play the hero and then deny it.”

“I’m no hero.”

“See? Just like that. But I disagree. I think you’re très galant.” Leaning in, brushing my lips against his ear, I whisper, “I learned that from Brighton.” Leaning back, I smooth my hands down his jacket. “And no matter what you say, I believe you care about the people in that room more than you want to admit.”

“Hmmm.”

His vague response makes me press further. “Merritt said you saved her and Linc’s lives,” I remind him. “What happened?”

“It was nothing.” He shrugs. “I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. They needed help. I made sure they got it.”

“Sounds like something a hero would do,” I tease, poking him in the chest.

“Okay, so I care about them a little.” He offers me a conciliatory smile.

“A lot,” I counter.

“And you?” he presses. “How do you think I feel about you?”

“I’m guessing you like me. At least a little.” My fingers toy with a button on his shirt.

“More than a little.” He traces an index finger along my collarbone and my nipples tighten. “You’re the most fascinating woman I’ve ever met.”

Memories of the way he touched me in the music room fill me, and a fervor begins to build inside causing my chest to rise and fall harder. “Can we leave now?” I whisper.

“I thought you’d never ask.” He grabs my hand, pulling me back toward the house. “Say your goodbyes fast, because I’m dying to be inside you.”

Heat pools in my core and I whip through the great room, giving the quickest farewell of my life. We aren’t fooling anyone, and amused looks follow us right out the door. “Wait.” I stumble to a stop. “The rental car is at A-Squared.”

“I’ve already got an Uber on the way.”

I throw my head back and laugh. Then Laurent pulls me into his arms and kisses me like our very lives depend on it. We keep kissing and kissing, tasting each other beneath the streetlight. Tongues tangling, mouths greedy, and my hands wanting to be on every inch of him at once. By the time the Uber pulls up, I’ve managed to undo his tie and unbutton the first few buttons of his shirt. With lipstick smudges all over his face and his hair sticking up, he looks adorably disheveled.

I giggle as he tugs me inside the car, and we can’t keep our hands off each other. Sneaking heated looks and touches throughout the ride, it feels like we’re never going to reach the hotel. Finally, our driver pulls up to the main entrance of the Ritz and Laurent already has his door open before the car fully stops.

“Someone is in a hurry,” I tease.

“You have no idea, chérie.”

We jog up the stairs, hand in hand, and walk through the doors into the fancy lobby. I’m looking around, trying to absorb all the lovely details, but his long strides quickly eat up the distance across the shiny floor to the elevator. He squeezes my hand, sending me a smoldering look as we wait for the door to open. Once it does, we step inside and impatiently wait for it to close again. The moment it does, our bodies slam together.

Throwing my arms around his neck, I melt against him, needing to feel every hard edge and taut muscle. Our tongues duel, the kiss deep and searching, and I scratch my nails through his thick hair. My body is restless and needy, yearning for what only he can give me—a release sure to make my toes curl.

Ding. The door glides open and we tumble out, still kissing and pawing at each other like a couple of horny teens. I can’t get enough of his touch, taste and intoxicating scent—warm and sweet. Oud, rich amber, velvety saffron. He smells like mystery and opulence. And I want to eat him up.

Halfway down the hall, he stops and pulls out a keycard. I’m licking his neck, practically hanging on him, as he keeps trying to swipe the card and missing the slot. With a groan, he pulls back from my eager mouth and looks down, finally getting it to open.

With a lovely-sounding French curse, he sweeps me inside and kicks the door shut. Then he grabs me, leads me straight to the bedroom, and we whirl in a circle, falling onto the bed. It’s as soft as a cloud, and the feel of his body covering mine is heaven. I’ve never experienced this kind of all-consuming desire for a man before, but Laurent is making me combust. I swear, I must have steam coming out of my ears. Better yet, probably my lady bits. The ache is real, and I need him to fill me like I’ve never been filled before.

“Fuck, yes, I will, Savvy,” he groans, grabbing my dress and pulling it up as he yanks off his bowtie.

Shit. Did I say that out loud? Yes, apparently I did. And I’m not one little bit sorry, either.

My dress and his tie go soaring through the air, and he lays his jacket with the book over the chair. Then those deft fingers of his unclasp my bra between blinks. When he starts sliding my panties down, hot anticipation makes me dig my fingers into the blanket. And the moment his warm breath blows between my thighs, I arch up with a whimper.