Page 53 of Rogue Wave

The sexy smirked that played on his face told me he knew exactly what I was doing.

“Is that so?” he asked as he moved closer to me.

My butt and lower back hit the counter, and his arms went to either side of me, effectively caging me in. I felt a thrill course through me.

“Yeah,” I said, though it came out as mostly a loud whisper.

“I hear a good fix for elevated stress levels is a kiss,” he said as his mouth moved closer to mine.

I could feel the breath leave his lips, but was not quite close enough to touch him.

“I can confirm it definitely helps.”

“Hmmm… Maybe we should give it a try.” He closed the gap and pressed his mouth softly to mine as sparks shot from my lips to my brain and all the way down my body.

My hands roamed down his chest and then around his back, pulling him closer to me. His hands came off the counter and went to either side of my head, tilting it to deepen the kiss.

He devoured me, and I loved it.

“You’re going to be all mine tonight,” he said with his lips still pressed against mine.

I tilted my head back to look into his eyes, a cocky grin now on my face. “Awfully sure of yourself, aren’t you?”

“I know you want this just as badly as I do.”

“Really?” I teased, even though it was absolutely true.

“I also know you’re likely twisting your fingers together at the back of my shirt in your usual nervous tic.”

His words made me detach my fingers immediately, though I still kept my arms wrapped around him.

My jaw dropped open. “How do you even know that?”

“Sweetheart, it’s literally my job to notice details like that from bad guys, and the good guys…and really any guy.”

“I’m not a guy.”

“I’m very aware of that,” he said, his eyes growing darker and more heated by the second. “Which makes me pay attention even more to you.”

I liked where his brain was heading. I needed to focus it even more.

“Is that a flashlight in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?” I teased as I tilted my hips back and up. The hem of my dress rode up, letting the rough fabric of his jeans scrape against the skin on my thighs as I rubbed them against his flashlight even more.

“Woman,” he growled, his hand latching quickly to my hip to keep me from moving any more.

A salacious grin overtook his face.

“You make me want to do crazy things, Hazel.”

“Yeah? I like doing crazy things.”

He nodded slowly as he ran his fingers over my scalp and sifted them through my hair. I loved when someone played with my hair. My sister and I used to do it a lot. But it was different when a man did it. Especially a man like Hank, who had big, strong hands—hands that could do serious damage but intentionally chose to be soft.

I tilted my head back farther into his hands, my silent way of letting him know that I enjoyed what he was doing.

“I get that,” he replied quietly. “It can feel good. Doing something you shouldn’t. Doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.”

Did he mean me?