Page 42 of Sundown Somewhere

“You don’t have to lie.”

“I didn’t.” The arm still around my waist tightens, pulling my body flush with his. My breath hitches, the butterflies in my chest coming alive again. “Are you saying you disagree?”

“No…”

My response is breathy and uneven, as if his question had sucked all the oxygen out of the air. With Hux holding me like this, our bodies this close, his face tilted toward mine so that his breath tickles my skin, in some ways it feels like he has.

“Good.”

Running a thumb along my lips, Hux inhales sharply, leaning in even closer. I freeze, my heart galloping, screaming for the only thing I want more than anything else right now. Something that I’ve imagined a hundred times, and still can’t begin to fathom.

Then it happens.

Soft, strong lips brush against mine, tentatively at first. A gentle testing of the waters. But that only lasts a second. Just long enough for my heart to stop as Hux takes my face in both hands, all hesitation evaporating instantly.

Something within me snaps. I whimper, grabbing ahold of his shirt, yanking him closer, trying to deepen the kiss. The one that I can feel weaving its way through every fiber of my body. His sweet and spicy taste is overpowering, and somehow I can’t get enough. I need more. I need to know that this feeling is never going to go away.

Our tongues meet, sending a whole new set of sparks flying through the air. Hux’s hands move to my hair, and I know that we’re putting on a show. We’re that couple—the one that makes out in the middle of the beach and doesn’t give a damn who sees them.

And yeah, I don’t give a single damn. As long as Hux keeps kissing me like this.

Because holy fuck, can Hux kiss.

A long moment later, I ease back, coming up for air. My lips tender from the kiss, my skin tingling from Hux’s scruff, and my mind completely blank, it’s going to take a minute to recover. Maybe more than a minute.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been kissed like that. Actually, that’s a lie. I’ve never been kissed like that. Whatever that was, was a first.

And I’d really like for there to be a second.

“How about I get you back to our room? Curl up and watch a movie?”

“I think that sounds perfect.”

“Me too.”

12

HUX

“You booked a couples massage?”

The way Dolly’s voice lifts after her last word, paired with her one raised eyebrow, leaves zero room for debate that that’s a question, rather than a statement, and she’s perplexed rather than tickled. Holding up the pamphlet the woman behind the check-in desk at the spa handed her, as if that’s going to somehow provide an answer, her gorgeous blue eyes go wide and I can see the wheels in her brain spinning.

Errrr…I booked a couple of massages…

Then again, thinking back to the package they had online, I might have been mistaken. After all, it was a "romantic escape" package. I simply hadn’t planned to use the romance part.

As best friends, one bed for us both was fine—we’ve shared a sleeping space plenty over the years—and the quiet dinner was going to be an escape. Add in a couple of massages as a way to relax and unwind, and it was going to be a great getaway.

That said, it makes a lot more sense now that I think about it that it would be a couples massage.

Oooops…

“Guess so…” I shrug, not knowing how else to respond. Because this is more than a little awkward.

And there’s not a lot that’s awkward between Dolly and me. It’s a rather short list considering how long we’ve been friends.

“Okay then.” Turning back to the check-in lady, she smiles, lighting up the room. Her voice is easy, light, and nonchalant, like this is the most natural thing in the world. “Yes, we are here for a couples massage.”