Page 39 of Heat Force
They broke apart, breathing heavily, their foreheads almost touching as they tried to collect themselves. Lexi’s hands dropped from his hair to his chest, her palms resting against the hard planes of muscle as she tried to steady her racing pulse. Hawk didn’t move away immediately, his hands still firmly on her hips, his thumb tracing slow, deliberate circles over the fabric of her dress.
His eyes locked with hers, and the heat in his gaze was enough to leave her breathless all over again. For a long moment, neither of them spoke, the air between them still crackling with sexual tension. Then, finally, Hawk gave a shaky laugh and murmured, “Saved by the coffee.”
Lexi managed a smile, though her lips still tingled from the force of his kiss. “We should …” She gestured vaguely toward the lodge, her voice unsteady.
“Yeah,” he agreed, though he didn’t release her right away. His gaze lingered on her face, his thumb brushing one last, tantalizing stroke over her hip before he finally stepped back.
He held out his hand, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Come on. Let’s not keep Estelle waiting.”
Lexi hesitated for half a second before slipping her hand into his. The simple touch sent a fresh wave of heat through her, and as he led her into the lodge, she couldn’t help but glance up at him. His hair was mussed, his lips slightly swollen, and his eyes still held that unmistakable fire.
Whatever had just happened between them, it was far from over.
CHAPTER 16
Hawk offered to walk Lexi home, though "offered" wasn’t really the right word. He wasn’t giving her a choice—not when every fiber of his being was demanding to be near her. From the second their lips had met back on the lodge deck, all he could think about was touching her again, tasting her again.
Dinner had been torture. Coffee, excruciating.
His focus had narrowed to the faint curve of her smile, the way her hair caught the light, the memory of her soft moan against his mouth.
They left the lodge together, the humid night air clinging to their skin as they followed the moonlit path. The jungle was alive with its symphony of insects and distant calls, but he barely heard it. Every sound was muted beneath the thunderous pulsing of his desire. She walked ahead of him, her stride brisk, her silhouette outlined in silver by the moonlight.
Fuck, the urge to touch her, to claim her, was maddening.
When they were finally out of sight of the lodge, he couldn’t take it anymore. Without warning, he reached for her, spinning her around and pulling her into his arms. Her gasp barely escaped before his mouth crushed against hers, hotand insistent. He kissed her like he’d been starving for her, devouring her lips with a hunger he couldn’t suppress. His hands slid down to her hips, pulling her flush against him, the softness of her body molding perfectly to the hardness of his.
“I can’t get enough of you,” he murmured against her lips, his voice low and gravelly with desire. “Now that I’ve tasted you, I just want more.”
Her soft moan was his undoing. She kissed him back with equal intensity, her hands gripping his arms, sliding up to clutch at his shoulders, as if she needed to hold on to him to keep from falling. He wasn’t sure how long they stood there, locked together in a kiss that threatened to consume them both, before he backed her against the thick trunk of a eucalyptus tree. Her head tilted back, lips parting to welcome him, and he took full advantage, tasting her deeply, possessively.
The feel of her, the taste of her—it fueled the fire raging inside of him. He buried his hands in her hair, tilting her head to angle her mouth perfectly under his. The tiny sounds she made, the way her fingers tangled in his hair, drove him wild. She tasted sweet and intoxicating, like a drug he couldn’t get enough of.
“Jesus, Nymph.” He pressed her against the tree as his lips trailed down her jawline, his teeth grazing the delicate skin of her neck.
She gasped, her body arching into him, clawing at his shirt. He couldn’t resist running his hands along her sides, feeling the curve of her waist beneath his fingers. Her skin was warm, her breath coming in short, soft pants that sent a rush of satisfaction straight through him.
“Stop,” she said, though her laugh belied the command. “We’ll never make it home at this rate.”
“Right now, I don’t care.” His voice was rough with need. His lips brushed against hers again, teasing, tasting, lingering. Butshe pulled back, laughing breathlessly as she tugged him toward the path. “Come on, Hawk. Let’s at least try to make it to the cabin.”
They stumbled through the clearing, hand in hand, the anticipation thick and electric between them. The second they reached her door, Hawk was on her again, his hands at her waist, his lips trailing over the curve of her neck as she fumbled with her keys.
“You’re not helping.” She laughed, breathlessly, her fingers trembling as she finally managed to unlock the door.
The moment it opened, he pushed her inside and kicked it shut behind him. There was no hesitation, no second-guessing. His hands slid under her blouse, his fingers grazing the bare skin of her back as he pulled her closer. She sighed into his kiss, her nails dragging lightly across his shoulders, and it was all the encouragement he needed.
“You drive me crazy,” he muttered, his voice low and rough as he peeled her blouse off and let it fall to the floor. The moonlight streaming through the window bathed her in soft silver light, illuminating every curve, every inch of pale, perfect skin.
“And so fucking beautiful.” His breath caught as he looked at her, and he couldn’t stop his hands from exploring—tracing the line of her collarbone, the dip of her waist, the curve of her hips.
Her bra joined the blouse on the floor, and he lowered his head, taking one taut peak into his mouth. Lexi cried out, her back arching, her hands gripping his hair as he continued to suckle. The sound of her moans made his blood roar, and he couldn’t stop himself from backing her toward the bed, his lips never leaving her skin.
She fell back against the mattress, hair splayed out around her like a dark halo. He stood for a moment, stripping off his shirt and jeans with quick, efficient movements. Her eyes werelocked on him, dark and full of heat, and it made him feel like the luckiest man alive.
He joined her on the bed, deftly unbuttoning her linen trousers and sliding them off her long, tanned legs. She writhed, reaching for him, and when he kissed her again, it was with a tenderness he’d never felt before. This smart, sassy, brave, remarkable and beautiful woman was his. Even if it was only for tonight.
Her legs wrapped around his waist, while her hands roamed over his back, drawing him in. Her soft moans drove him to the brink of madness.