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Her bones dissolved.
Tremors stirred her blood.
He moved his hand to the back of her head, and she cupped both sides of his face, their heads angling. His tongue parted her lips, and hers darted out, but they touched only once before he pulled back. Then he continued to melt her with swift, gentle movements of his lips against hers, the pressure of his mouth firm enough to tilt her chin as their lips separated.
Before her eyes had a chance to open, he circled his arms around her waist and lifted her off her feet. She looped hers around his neck, squeezing so tight she didn’t know how he found the space to breathe.
“That’s the last one of those you’ll get without begging,” he grated out, breathing harder than usual. “But I was in no way, shape, or form going to let my wife get on a plane without kissing her goodbye.”
Tears knocked, but she didn’t answer. It would be days before she put herself back together, and parts of her would remain attached to his skin.
Sweet.
It was the only word to describe the way he tasted and how it felt to be crushed by his embrace seconds after kissing him until the world spun. It didn’t matter that he held her so close, she felt his heart beating against her. Every last bit of it, of him, was sweet.
“See you next week,” she said, her voice as if she lived on lily pads in a Louisiana bog.
“Next week,” he echoed.
“Have a safe flight, Lucas.”
“You do the same. Text me when you land.”
He set her on her feet.
She retrieved her carry-on, returned to the line, and set her phone down on the scanner when she reached the gate agent. It took a few tries to read the boarding pass, and she mentally wished for a delay, but the agent smiled as the scan finally went through.
Right before she disappeared down the tunnel, she looked back one more time.
Lucas was still watching her.
He waved, and she returned the gesture. Then he looked up when he heard his group being called, and as he walked off, she forced herself to continue down the tunnel. If she didn’t, she would run after him, and it would be a while before North Carolina saw her again.
ChapterSeven
Lucas looked up from the digital voice recorder to check the time on his monitor screen. Monday was almost over, and Raina still hadn’t returned his call or text from earlier. She wanted him to believe she was busy with work, but for all he knew, she could be dead in a ditch somewhere.
“Patient is a fifty-two-year-old Caucasian male of Eastern European descent diagnosed with Primary Sjogren’s Syndrome three years ago,” he continued. “Patient triedsialendoscopyin the past to improve saliva flow with minimal success. After discussing options with patient, patient agreed to removal of salivary gland. Performed a unilateral,” he took another glance at the clock, “parotidectomy. Samples submitted to histology for biopsy. Complications: none. Patient is in post-op, alert and vitals stable. Anticipated move to standard room in twelve hours.”
He stopped the recording and leaned back in his chair. When he’d demanded that he and Raina see each other today, despite her reminding him of her hectic schedule, he’d known there was a possibility he wouldn’t get his way.
But waiting until Friday to see her? Especially with her staying at her sister’s new place, which was less than ten minutes away from his condo?
Out of the question.
It wasn’t like he’d minced his words about what he wanted or, at least, hoped for them. Yet, there were times it was as if she believed he didn’t want her when, since the moment he first set eyes on her, all he’d done was want her.
Someone knocked on his office door.
A rhythmic knock.
One he always pretended to be annoyed by.
Delilah opened the door and poked her head inside. “Hey.”
“Is for horses, Daniels,” he finished.
“And rabbits.” She entered, shutting the door behind her. “Rabbits eat hay. Timothy hay, alfalfa hay—”
