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Damn, she’s good. So much so that I can’t help but to return the smile. Then she starts to run right toward me. Taking her cue, I move, striding her way. She leaves her suitcase behind right before she launches herself at me. I catch her and pull her close.
Having her in my arms feels unreal. It sinks in that I don’t really know her. That the woman I’ve been watching on the screen for the past ten days isn’t the same one in my arms right now. And I desperately want to know the woman who feels this perfect pressed against my body.
She buries her face into my neck. “Thanks for doing this.”
I tighten my hold and nuzzle my face into her neck. “I’ve got you.”
And I do. I’m going to protect her with everything in me.
Her body instantly relaxes, and I feel a sob break free. Only one. Silent. She burrows her face further into me, making sure her face isn’t seen. Her breath brushes my skin as she takes several calming breaths. “Don’t let go.”
Never.
I swing her around in a circle, hoping it looks like a reunion scene right out of the movies. Once I feel that she’s calmed, I whisper, “Ready?”
She nods and pulls back, the power of her whiskey-colored gaze on me hits like a round of shots. I’m instantly drunk. On her.
Which is the only thing that can explain what I do next.
I bring my hands to her cheeks and lean in. Her eyes widen in surprise for a split second before I press my forehead to hers.
“Breathe.”
She lets out a long exhale and as soon as her body relaxes into mine again, I kiss her.
3
AUTUMN
I’ve kissed dozens of men at this point in my career. A kiss hardly means anything to me anymore. But Jackson’s mouth on mine is unlike any kiss I’ve had before. I don’t know if it’s the fact that he’s surprised me or the fact that he’s kissing me fully and deeply…but I’m feeling it everywhere.
And I don’t want it to end. Ever.
A little moan escapes my throat as I tangle my tongue with his but before I can sink fully into the kiss, it’s over.
Jackson pulls away and immediately tucks me into his chest, which I’m thankful for. I need a minute, because if I look at him now, it will probably be in a ‘stars in my eyes’ kind of way. And I need to look like I’ve kissed him countless times.
He maneuvers me until I’m facing Gage. Gage looks a little shell-shocked, his gaze darting between us, before he pastes a smile on his face and opens his arms to me.
“Hey,” I say softly. “It’s so good to see you.”
He gives me a quick, reassuring squeeze before he releases me though he keeps his hands on my arms. Our hug will definitely come off as friendlier than the one I shared with Jackson.
“Hey, Atwood. Looks like you still know how to chase trouble.”
I laugh. “I told you years ago. I don’t chase it. Trouble chases me. I’m just shit at running.”
He throws his head back and laughs. “Well, don’t you worry. Jackson here is a sharpshooter. He’ll cut off the trouble at the pass.”
My heart melts at that. I don’t know if this is how Gage always runs his business or if I’m special because we’re friends, but it means the world to me at all the lengths he’s willing to go. I look at Jackson. Green. His eyes are green. They remind me of the clear sun-glittered water of a cenote I visited in Mexico. And those beautiful eyes are studying me, his jaw tense. I wish I knew him. Maybe then I would have some sort of insight on what’s going on in his head. I’m asking a lot of him, not only to protect me, but to be an actor as well. Not many would agree. And yet, he knocked it out of the park right at the start.
“Let’s grab your stuff,” Gage says, breaking us out of our stare down.
Jackson closes in and throws an arm around my shoulders and pulls me in. I stiffen then my acting skills take over and I cuddle into him before looking up at him from under my lashes. He’s looking down at me, and smiles before pressing his lips against my forehead. I clutch his waist, not just for appearances sake, but because if he keeps doing this, I’m going to be a puddle at his feet. His touches and smiles, that soul-melting kiss…they’re hitting me harder than my last orgasm.
We make idle chit-chat as we wait for my other suitcase though I have no idea how I’m keeping up with the roar of my body responding to being pressed up against Jackson. Every cell inside me feels like it’s running around in chaos. I’m hot. My heart is racing. My skin is prickly.
Gage grabs my suitcase, Jackson has hold of my carry-on and we head out of the airport. Jackson keeps his arm around me all the way to the car. He opens the backseat door to a huge black SUV with dark tinted windows. He gestures for me to get in the backseat then goes around gets in the front passenger seat. His attention alert as Gage puts my luggage in the back. He’s no longer the affectionate boyfriend – he’s all bodyguard.
