Page 19 of Don't Tell

He kisses me.

My body melts. I don’t fight him. I don’t even think I want to. I do the exact opposite. I grab his hair. I pull him to me. My back is against the wall. I don’t know how or when, but his body is against mine, and it feels… Oh, I don’t have a word for it. His free hand moves to my waist. I arch against him. His tongue begs for permission to enter. I don’t hesitate. I give in.

His mouth is warm. The hand on my neck has moved to my jaw. He tastes like coffee. I can smell sandalwood and the warm alcohol of expensive cologne.

The pen drops somewhere behind me on the desk.

I pull away, wondering what I’ve just done. He’s breathing hard. His eyes are dark with desire. He wants more. I can feel it…literally.

He does not let go of my jaw. His thumb is at the corner of my mouth. His face is an inch away. All I can do is stare at him. My thoughts are not organized yet. What do I say? What do I do?

Nothing. Nothing at all.

I push him away and ignore the chill that seeps into my skin. I take my jaw out of his hand. I step back. I walk to the door.

He does not stop me.

I open it. I push my cart through it. I walk down the corridor. I press the button for the service elevator. I get in. The doors close.

I press my palm to my mouth.

It is still warm.

I count down as the elevator drops — eighteen, seventeen, sixteen. I stand in the corner with my back to the mirrored wall, my fingers pressed flat across my lips, and I don't move them.

I know he’s going to kiss me again. It’s inevitable. My only prayer is that I’m strong enough to stop it.

I take my hand off my mouth.

6.Cade

“Mr. Nightingale. A pleasure to hear from you. How can I help you today?”

“I want the hotel, Tomas.”

There’s a long pause. “You want the hotel? What hotel, if I may ask?”

“The Cresswell in Napa. I’m staying there. I want it.”

There’s a longer pause this time. I imagine him scratching his beard in confusion. “Mr. Nightingale, we’re not currently in the hotel business. This is quite a shift of interest. Can I ask what brought this on?”

Suzanne’s face flashes before my eyes. She brought this on. I want to make sure this hotel is something I can have, just in case I have to prove a point to that lizard.

“The hotel is privately owned,” I say. “The family is in Sausalito. They’ve been holding it for seventy years. Find out who in the third generation has gambling debts and use it against them.”

“You’re joking.”

“When have I ever?”

“This is out of our… I’m not even sure where to… Mr. Nightingale, I have to advise that you think this through.”

“Tomas, just get this done. I’ll be at the office today.”

I end the call. I roll my neck repeatedly. There's a knot somewhere in my body ever since I kissed Suzanne. I am restless and uncomfortable. I barely slept last night, and it was all because I couldn’t stop thinking about the feel of her body against mine.

I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything or anyone this badly. My entire body is burning with want for her. But it’s more than that. I actually care about her. When I leave the suite, I find myself looking down the hallway for her. When I’m inside, I wait for her to show up.

It’s crazy, and yet, I’m not making any moves to stop it.