Free Need You Now (1001 Dark Nights) by Lisa Renée Jones Page A

add, “I have to go to my room before I embarrass myself.”
    “You won’t embarrass yourself with me,” he assures me softly.
    “And while I appreciate the thought, I don’t want to take a chance. I should go to bed.”
    “As should I,” he agrees, and we share a look that says we are both thinking the same thing. One bed would be better than two. “Our bags are already in our rooms, so,” he waves me forward, “ladies first.”
    I walk toward the exit and he falls into step with me, rounding a corner to take the elevator to the room and beach level. Inside the car we face forward, not looking at each other, but I am impossibly aware of this man. Exiting, we travel an impossibly long hallway in silence, as if we are both afraid of what we might say. We stop at our rooms and Jensen accompanies me to mine, lingering close while I unlock the door. Swiping the key, I’m aware of my heart beating too fast, and crazily, my thighs are slick, my body tense with the denial of what it wants, which is this man.
    The door buzzes and I open it, propping it open with my body as I turn to face Jensen. His hands come down on the frame above my head, and the scent of him, so masculine and addictive, teases my nostrils. “For the record, last night was my pleasure, I promise you. I just wanted more of you. Much more.”
    “I’m not sure what you want me to say to that.”
    “Nothing. Don’t say anything. Look, Ms. Wood. Danny. I have to send you home in the morning.”
    “What? No. No I’m here to help. I’m staying.”
    “No” he insists, his voice a steel rod. “You aren’t.”
    “But—”
    “No debate.”
    “Why? Why put me through coming here so at the last minute you can send me away?”
    “Because I spent the entire dinner tonight thinking about all the ways I want to fuck you, lick you, and have my way with you, and if you stay, I will do all of them and more.” He pushes off the wall abruptly. “I’ll make arrangements for your travel and text them to you.”
    I gape, unable to process what just happened.
    “Go into your room, Danny, before I do something we’ll both regret.”
    “That’s where you’re wrong. I won’t regret it.”
    “Until morning.”
    “I regret leaving last night.”
    “I’m right there with you on that one, baby, but everything changed this morning. Go inside.”
    “I don’t want to go.”
    “You have to go.”
    I don’t move. He doesn’t move. The air is so thick, I can’t breathe. And then suddenly he is grabbing me and pulling me to him, his fingers twining in my hair, his mouth slanting over mine. His tongue licks into my mouth, deep, sensual, sexy. I moan and curl my fingers on the hard wall of his chest, meeting his stroking, trying to get more of him, but I don’t succeed.
    Abruptly, he tears his mouth from mine, staring down at me, the seconds ticking by, our breathing the only sound between us. I sway toward him and he pushes the door open behind me, and when I think he will follow me inside, instead he turns me and all but lifts me. The next thing I know, he’s deposited me inside my room and the door is slamming behind me. I turn, expecting him to be there, but he is gone. I am alone.
    Devastated and fighting a tight, pinching feeling in my eyes and chest, I sink to the ground, letting my purse fall with me. My cell phone starts ringing and I dig inside my purse for it, thinking Jensen is calling me from outside the door. I grab it and answer without looking at the number. “Hello.”
    “Danny!”
    “Katie,” I say, one part relieved and one part disappointed. “Where are you?”
    “Vegas,” she declares. “I got married!” Her tone turns serious. “And don’t freak. I’m not coming back to work, Danny. I’m going on the road with David.”
    A million objections die on my lips, killed by two words. I’m married. Nothing else I can say matters and I worry for her, but I celebrate with her as well. By the time we say good-bye, I end the call