Page 31 of One Kind Hand

In the next moment, she found herself up against the wall behind her, Austin’s hand hooked at the back of her neck.

“You’d better tell me to stop if you don’t want to be kissed,” he whispered, his mouth a mere inch from hers.

When she didn’t say anything, he closed the distance, their lips crashing together in a kiss that incinerated any kiss Charlie had ever been a part of before. Austin’s lips were full and consuming. His tongue traced along her lips and she didn’t think twice about granting him entry. Each stroke awakened something deep inside her. Something that had been dormant for her thirty-one years of existence on this planet. Fire raced through her veins and when she ground her hips against Austin, a moan rumbled in his chest that nearly made her orgasm on the spot.

She hooked her fingers on the front pockets of his jeans, attempting to bring him closer but there was no more space to be gained. They were painted onto one another. It wasn’t close enough though. She needed . . . more.

Austin’s hand cupped her cheek as he slowed the kiss, pulling a slight whimper from her when he backed up a step. He gave her a killer half smile and ran his finger along her jaw.

“You didn’t say stop.”

She shook her head. “I’m not too happy you stopped right now.”

“Me either, but if we don’t go, we’re going to be late and they can’t get started without me.”

“Gosh, you’re so important.” She swatted his chest, but he quickly caught her wrist and pressed her hand to his heart. His rapidly beating heart.

“You must be important too if you caused that.”

She loved the feel of his strong heartbeat beneath her palm. She loved it even more that she’d been the stimulus for that wild rhythm.

“Tell me we can go for round two of that later.” He leaned his forehead against hers.

She nodded against him. “I’d like that.”

“Good.” He backed up again. “C’mon.” He tugged her to the suite door, sweeping Berto gently out of the way with his foot. “Go to your bed, Berto.”

The Chihuahua hesitated, angling his head for a moment before racing off to the living room and jumping onto the couch.

“Couch equals bed?” Charlie asked.

“Of course. A dog of his size needs an entire couch. I told you he thinks he’s a Great Dane. He even attempted to take you down like a big dog.” Austin shook his head. “Sorry again for that.”

“Considering I got kissed senseless because he tripped me, I don’t think apologies are necessary.” Her goddamn lips still buzzed from that smooch.

“Senseless, huh?” Austin raised an eyebrow. “I’ll have to see if I can top that.”

They left the suite, though that was the last thing Charlie wanted to do. Judging by the tight hold Austin had on her hand as they headed for the elevator, he hadn’t wanted to leave either. The prospect of later, however, offered some consolation.

Charlie wasn’t sure what later would bring, but if it lived up to half of what she’d fantasized about all last night while alone in her bed . . . well . . . it’d be worth the fucking wait.

Chapter Six

Maybe it was the lingering remnants of the kiss, the fact that she was on a live movie set, or the sheer skill Austin displayed in bringing the script to life, but by the time the afternoon had arrived, Charlie was so aroused she didn’t know what to do with herself. Between Austin, Cody, and Janice she’d been introduced to absolutely everyone involved in working on the movie and had been allowed a prime spot near the director to watch Austin in action.

Other actors were in the scenes too, but Charlie’s gaze only tracked Austin. She recognized some of the other stars, but they didn’t hold half of the appeal that Austin did. Probably because her lips hadn’t been sealed with theirs this morning. She loved watching the filming, but the anticipation of being alone with Austin again was overwhelming.

“He’s something else, isn’t he?”

Charlie turned to see Cody standing slightly behind her. “Yeah. He makes the characters so real.”

“It’s his singular focus on the movie he’s doing at the time that allows him to nail the characters so perfectly.” One of Cody’s eyebrows arched as he stared at Charlie. “He dedicates himself fully to the script, to portraying the character. He becomes the movie. Makes it hard to get to know the real him sometimes.”

Charlie wanted to point out that from her limited experience, she could tell the difference between movie Austin and real-life Austin, but she kept her mouth shut. Something about Cody’s tone, facial expression, and stance felt like a . . . a warning.

“Whatever his methods are,” she said instead, “they work.”

Cody nodded, his gaze turning back to Austin who was currently talking with the stunts specialist. “It’s important that he be allowed to use his methods.” He walked off, stopping to speak to Janice, but his words stuck with Charlie.