Page 41 of Girl Long Gone

Heat poured between them in waves and combined with the warmth in her belly. The locks clicked, Connor opened the door, and yanked her inside. She slammed the door and he pushed her against the hard wood. He fisted his hands in her hair and crushed his mouth on hers.

Evelyn slid her palms over his pecs and around his neck. He pressed his tongue into her mouth, licking and moaning, encouraging her to reciprocate. She met his strokes with her own, relishing the taste of him.

Ruff, ruff!

Connor groaned and dropped his head to the crook of her neck, gently nipping her shoulder. “Dammit, Porkchop. Again, with the bad timing.”

Evelyn laughed and struggled to catch her breath. “Can you lock him in the bathroom or something?”

“Give me a second.” Connor scooped up the dog and hurried off.

Evelyn ran a hand through her hair and blew a breath through barely parted lips. She pressed her hands to her belly to try to stop the stupid butterflies from dancing along her stomach.

Lust wasn’t the only thing driving her into Connor’s arms right now. She’d waited her entire life for a man to show her she was worth something. He didn’t want to swoop in and be her knight in shining armor, he wanted to give her the sword to slay her own dragon.

Having his hands on her earlier, showing her how to use her own strength to defend herself, had driven her to brink of insanity. If people hadn’t bustled around on the other side of the glass at the gym, she wouldn’t have been able to stop herself from taking him right there.

A door slammed, and she held her breath while she waited for Connor to appear. He turned the corner and extended his hand. “Come here,” he said, nodding his head toward the bedroom. “Unless you prefer the hallway.”

His crooked smile broke the tension, and she laughed. “I think we can find some place a little more comfortable.” She took his hand and let him lead her down the hall.

He opened the bedroom door and waited for her to enter before following behind her and closing the door.

She turned toward him, and anxiety stole her nerve. She dropped her gaze to her feet and scratched the soft fabric of her hoodie. Being in a bedroom alone with Connor brought all her insecurities crashing down. It’d been a long time since she’d let a man get this close, and the outcome had never been great.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have closed the door.” He opened the door, leaving only a crack of light filtering into the room.

His consideration calmed her anxiety, but her nerves still shook. He came toward her. She focused on the soft lines around his sapphire-blue eyes. He stopped in front of her, and she lifted her chin to keep their gazes locked.

Summoning her courage, she slid her hand up the front of his shirt and flattened her palm on his rock-hard abs. Connor sucked in a breath, his stomach constricting. Awareness zipped through her. His reaction to her simple touch made her feel like a goddess.

For the first time in her life, she held the power. Inching her palm higher, she spread her fingers over his pec and rubbed her thumb over his nipple, drawing it into a hard nub.

She wanted more—wanted the afternoon sun seeping through the thin curtain to show her every line of his body. Tearing her fingers from his smooth chest, she glided her hand down his stomach. She grabbed the hem of his T-shirt and lifted.

Connor allowed her to guide the shirt over his head. He stood still, letting her gaze travel over his broad shoulders and ripped arms.

He pulled on her baggy hoodie and brought her to him. He inched her hoodie up her torso and over her head, throwing it to join his shirt on the floor.

He circled her waist with his hands.

She tilted her head back to gaze at his face. “Your hands almost go all the way around.”

The side of his mouth hitched up. “I’ve got big hands.”

A burst of excitement tingled between her legs, and she tucked her bottom lip between her teeth. Leaving one hand on her waist, Connor brought the other to her mouth and freed her lip. “If anyone gets to taste your mouth, it’s me.”

She shivered. Oh Lord, what have I gotten myself into?

He dipped his head and his tongue, hot and wet, delved into her. No gentle meeting of lips or slow easing into the moment. It was an all-consuming, gut-twisting, I-need-you- now kiss.

Evelyn raised on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck. His arms connected at the small of her back and he lifted her to him, pressing his long shaft against her stomach. She wrapped her legs around his waist, and he cupped his hands against her ass.

Evelyn moaned. If Connor had big hands, they had nothing on what hid beneath his gym shorts.

Step by step, he headed toward the bed. She unhooked her legs and settled them back on the floor, the backs of her knees pressed against the mattress. He pulled away and stared at her with raised brows.

She panted. “What is it?”