Page 156 of No Headlines Please

"Why two?" I asked again.

"Because two's better than one."

"It is?"

His voice softened. "What I mean to say is, I'm glad you're here." His gaze met mine. "I missed you."

I had missed him, too. Still, it made no sense. "But we only spent those couple days together."

He smiled. "I know."

"So, why are you smiling?"

"Because you smiled first."

"I did?" But he was right. And I was still smiling – a big, goofy grin that probably looked ridiculous.

"Yup. And I know why, too."

At something in his eyes, my heart gave a warm flutter. "Why?"

"Because you missed me, too."

I snorted. "Is that a question?"

"No. It's a statement of fact."

I gave him a playful swat to the arm. "So you are a mind-reader."

He looked adorably cocky. "Yup."

For a moment, neither of us said anything. As a wisp of a cloud drifted past the window, I drank in the sight of him. He was ridiculously attractive.

My gaze dipped to his lips. They looked infinitely kissable, especially now, curved into a slight smile, like he knew exactly what I was thinking.

Damn it.

He probably did.

Just then, the jet gave a gentle bump. Instinctively, I reached once again for the armrest. But instead, my hand landed on his.

His hand felt warm and strong, and I didn't pull back. I didn't want to – and not because of anything to do with the flight. When his fingers curled around mine, my heart gave a dangerous little stutter.

Maddox looked down at our joined fingers before lifting his gaze to mine.

Suddenly, I couldn't seem to stop myself. I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his. And just like that, he was kissing me back.

His hand came up to my jaw, his thumb stroking my cheek as the kiss deepened and grew more frantic. When his tongue found mine, my pulse went absolutely haywire.

Suddenly, I couldn't seem to get nearly close enough. I shifted toward him, hardly aware that I was moving until his free hand settled at my waist and drew me the rest of the way.

Before I knew it, I was perched sideways across his lap, kissing him like the past few months had never happened. His mouth stole every coherent thought from my head, leaving only warmth, longing, and the sudden certainty that I'd missed him far more than I had ever admitted.

His arm tightened, keeping me exactly where I wanted to be. His mouth was warm. His body was hard. And the scent of him – all clean and masculine – was icing on the cake.

I half-forgot where I was – until a soft chime echoed through the cabin.

Maddox pulled back with a quiet curse. For a long moment, neither of us moved. I wasn't even sure I could move. I felt dizzy and warm in all the right places.