Free Triple Time by Regina Kyle Page B

tat, and her cheek burned where his thumb rested.
    â€œNo.” The offending thumb brushed her lower lip. “With us.”
    â€œThere...there is no us.”
    â€œDon’t.” The noise of the traffic swirled around them, her heart beating in time to the rhythmic
thump thump
of the cars passing over a steel road plate.
    â€œDon’t what?”
    â€œAct like you’re not feeling it, too. Like— Watch out!” He yanked her out of the way of a late-night cyclist and swore. “Are you okay?”
    She nodded, her pulse pounding for two reasons now.
    â€œThis is ridiculous.” He glanced at the night sky and scrubbed a hand across his face.
    â€œThat’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.”
    â€œNot this.” He gestured between them. “This.” He flung an arm out toward Christopher Street. “The fact that we’re having this conversation in the heart of the goddamn Village.”
    â€œYou’re the one who wanted to talk.”
    â€œYeah, well, maybe I was wrong. Maybe the time for talking is over.” He did a hasty scan of the area then pulled her into a nearby doorway, trapping her there with his body. “Ask me again.”
    A hot flush spread up her face. “Ask you what?”
    â€œWhat you asked in the bar.” He rested his forehead against hers. “About going back to your place.”
    So he was serious. They were really doing this.
    Hot damn.
    â€œDo you want to go back to my place?”
Bad idea.
Her breath rasped in her throat. She was supposed to be putting out the fire smoldering between them, not dousing it with gasoline.
    But what a lovely way to burn.
    â€œHell, yes,” Gabe croaked. She reached up to touch his face, but he grabbed her wrist and stopped her midway, lowering her hand slowly but not releasing it. “Not here. Not like this. No more doorways or alleys. This time we do it right. Slow and easy. Even if it takes all night.”
    Oh, yeah. A fucking lovely burn.
    He pulled her to the curb and whistled for a cab.
    â€œWe can walk. Or the subway’s just up the block...”
    He shushed her with a finger to her lips. “I know you’re a big fan of public transportation. But I’m done sharing you tonight.”
    Could mere words make someone come? Because Devin was pretty sure she almost had.
    She pulled herself together and ducked into the open door of the taxi, sliding across the bench seat until she was pressed against the far door. If Gabe could wait, so could she, but only if he didn’t touch her.
    He gave the cab driver her address and flashed Devin a good-boy-with-bad-intentions smile that had her practically coming again.
    It was a damned good thing her apartment was only a five-minute ride away.
    â€œYou’re awfully quiet way over there,” Gabe said as the cab pulled away from the curb. “Having second thoughts?”
    Second, third and fourth, but she wasn’t going to let him know that. What the fuck was wrong with her? When she wanted a guy, she wanted him. And she usually had him. No hemming and hawing, full steam ahead.
    So why was it different with Gabe? She wanted him. He wanted her. It should be as simple as that.
    The cabby jammed on the brakes in front of Devin’s apartment building, saving her from answering. “That’ll be six bucks even.”
    Gabe handed over a ten and got out without waiting for change. He extended a hand to Devin, and she took it before she could chicken out. A tremor ran through her at the contact.
    â€œYou can still change your mind.” He dropped her hand, almost like he realized how much his touch affected her and wanted to make sure she was acting with her head and not her hormones. “I hear it’s a woman’s prerogative.”
    â€œMaybe.” She exhaled slowly, reclaimed his hand and led him up the stairs. “But not this woman. Not tonight.”
    Â 

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