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His cell phone buzzed as he left the room, and he checked it to see a text from Brian.
Have some information. Call me in twenty.
Lillian was on her way back to Hannah’s room when she almost plowed into Tristan coming from the opposite direction. He gripped her shoulders to keep her upright, the strength in his hands causing a ripple of excitement to slither down her sensitive skin and settle in her chest. Lillian’s heart fluttered like a frightened butterfly.
His energy was stronger than normal and flowing outward, his chakras wide open, which could only mean one thing: Hannah had used her talent on him.
The large white envelope Lillian held lay trapped between them.
He drew back. “What’s this?”
She handed him the envelope. “Hannah’s medical records. I don’t suppose you’ll need them now. The nurses tell me she may be released as early as tomorrow.”
“That’s great news.”
“It is.”
Tristan stilled; his blue eyes searched hers, a question in them. “You’re upset.”
She frowned and shook her head. “I’m just relieved, that’s all.” As if in protest, a tear trembled at the corner of her eye.Dammit.She couldn’t afford tears.
“Zoey, whatever this is, whatever sorrow you’re holding, please tell me.”
She didn’t answer, but he used the pad of his thumb to brush the wetness from her eye and then pulled her into his arms as if holding her was an everyday occurrence. She couldn’t resist resting her cheek against the reassuring strength in his hard chest and listening to the steadythump-thump-thumpof his heart. His breath brushed the top of her head, heat exploding across her senses.
“Trust me,” he urged, his tone soothing.
Power flowed into every part of her. “I do trust you.” It was true. Despite the conversation she’d overheard, despite his association with Dominic, despite their short acquaintance, she trusted him. But it wasn’t fair to expose him to further danger.
She swallowed the dryness in her mouth. She couldn’t keep Tristan by her side, even though every particle of energy inside vibrated at their rightness together. “I’m leaving.”
He pulled far enough away so he could see her face, his intelligent eyes boring into hers. “When?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll uphold my end of our bargain tonight. But I’ve booked an early morning flight for tomorrow. Now I need to…to say goodbye to Hannah and her…her dad, and then if you’ll take me back to your house, I’ll change and get my rental. If you give me the address, I’ll meet you at the fundraiser…”
He placed two fingers on her lips, silencing her. “I’m not letting you drive by yourself in your condition. Besides, we need to get a few things straight between us.”
He was so handsome telling her the way it was going to be, he took her breath away. And the power emanating from his tall form could light a forest fire. An intense longing gripped her in its clutches, shaking her to her core. A longing for a dream she could never have. A longing so deep and wide and vast, her heart ached for her own little happily ever after.
He must have sensed her feelings because twin flames leaped in his eyes, setting her body on fire. He dropped his chin, and she tilted her face, and somehow their lips met in the middle.
She hadn’t known a kiss could be so soft and firm at the same time, not tentative at all, but not in a hurry, either. He brushed against her lips once, twice, three times until she opened her mouth and took him inside. And then his tongue and teeth were exploring her in a way she’d never experienced before, like he would learn every one of her secrets by kissing her.
And God help her, now that she’d started, she liked the sensation of kissing Tristan way too much to tell him to stop.
“Zoey,” he muttered when they came up for air. He framed her face with his large hands. “You’ve cast a spell on me.”
A stranger brushed by too close and bumped against them, startling her and bringing her to their surroundings faster than if he’d dumped a bucket of cold water on her head.I’m standing in the middle of a hospital kissing a man I only met yesterday. Have I lost my mind?
She took a step backward and dodged the guy dressed in a blue uniform, who was pushing a cart of cleaning supplies. She blew out a breath. Just an ordinary maintenance man, but it easily could have been someone who recognized her or a member of Kinetica in disguise.
“Someone you know?”
“No…it’s…I…this is unexpected. I didn’t mean…I’m sorry. It’s a mistake.” She curled her hands at her sides to keep from reaching for him. It was more than raw attraction she fought. She fought the need to protect him from her own selfish desire. She fought the need for someone to share her worries and fears and triumphs, for someone to care for and who cared for her.
For someone to love.
“It’s not a mistake. I’ve been wanting to kiss you since we first met.”
