Page 88 of Spurred On

It was a warm and slow kiss, a teasing, testing buss that quickly swelled into something more. She heard Tibby’s gasp and her mutter of outrage, but barely, because Cody tipped his head to the side and deepened the kiss until all her senses sank, down and down into the well of passion.

But the funny thing was, it wasn’t sexual passion. That was the strange and wonderful thing about this kiss. There was no urgency, no desperate need, no empty hunger screaming to be filled. It was . . . a melding. A tender exchange. A lovely, loving delight.

She was breathless by the time he lifted his head.

Breathless as he stared at her.

Breathless with anticipation as he stroked her cheek and leaned in for another taste.

“Ahem.” They jerked apart and Sidney’s gaze flew over to the desk where Nurse Nazi sat, glaring at them. Chagrined, she flicked a look at Cody, who was equally chastised, but somehow, as they stared at each other, and his lips quirked, hers followed. And then they chuckled.

It was probably inappropriate to chuckle, but they did.

And they both noticed . . . Tibby was gone.

***

Cody was surprised how much he enjoyed just being with Sidney. Normally, sitting around a waiting room—or any room—bored him to tears and he felt the irresistible urge to bound up and move on to some other activity, but with her, it was enough to sit by her side, chat about nothing in particular and pull her into a kiss whenever Tibby—who was apparently stalking them—hove into view.

He particularly liked it when Tibby hove into view. He never thought it possible to have a skirl of excitement rise in his belly at the sight of her, but there you have it.

After a while, it became a Pavlovian response. He’d see those pink stripes and—ding-a-ling—he’d go in for a kiss.

It became almost a game to them, one Sidney seemed to enjoy as well, although he would have preferred she not giggle while he kissed her.

But then, even her giggling was nice.

When Hanna and Logan returned, they brought lunch—take-out from Bubba’s—which was damn nice of them, because the food in the hospital cafeteria, other than the pie, was designed to enhance job security . . . in as much as it was as likely to require one to be admitted as not.

The four of them rearranged the chairs around the coffee table and chatted as they downed Bubba Burgers, onion rings, fries, and malts. It was way too much food considering he’d been sitting on his ass for two days, but Cody managed to finish first.

When he issued a rolling belch, Sidney smacked him.

“Gawd, Silver,” she quipped. “You’re such delicate flower.”

He belched again, and she rolled her eyes.

But a second later, she leaned over, as if to whisper in his ear . . . and let one roll. Right into his auditory canal.

Hanna heaved a sigh. “Honestly, you two are birds of a feather.”

Sidney grinned and flapped her arms and squawked, which made Cody laugh.

She was so funny. He loved that about her.

He was, suddenly, possessed by the urge to kiss her. So he did.

When he pulled back, her eyes were wide. They shared a moment. Of silence. Of connection. Of—

“What the hell was that?” Hanna ejaculated.

Sidney blinked and tore her gaze from his. Damn.

“It’s a game we’re playing,” she said, and he tried not to flinch.

“Yeah. A game.”

Logan wiped his mouth with a napkin—Bubba Burgers were drippy. “And exactly what kind of game is that?”