"Thank you," she says softly. "For tonight. For bringing me. For—"
I step closer. "Kinsley."
"Yeah?"
"Stop talking."
Her breath hitches, and then I'm kissing her, my hands framing her face with all the gentleness I can manage when every cell in my body is screaming to pull her closer. Her sigh tells me everything I need to know.
Her hands find my chest, fingers curling into my shirt, and I deepen the kiss, letting all the want I've been holding back pour through. She responds with an urgency that matches my own, her body swaying into mine until we're pressed together in the hallway like we're the only two people in the world.
I back her against her door, my hands sliding into her hair, and she makes another one of those sounds that goes straight through me. Her head tips back and I push my hat back to trail kisses along her jaw, finding a spot on her collarbone that makes her shiver.
“Kinsley,” I breathe against her skin, and she threads her fingers through the hair at the napeof my neck.
I pull back to look at her, taking in her flushed cheeks, her kiss-swollen lips, the way her chest rises and falls like she can't quite catch her breath. She's beautiful like this—undone and real and completely mine in this moment.
"You have no idea what you do to me," I tell her, my fingers brushing along her temple, down to where her pulse thrums against her throat. "You know that?"
She leans into my touch; her lashes fluttering closed for a moment. When she opens them again, I can see everything she's feeling—the want, the uncertainty, the fear of how much this means.
"I should go in," she whispers, but she doesn't move away from me.
"Should," I agree, but I don't step back either. Instead, I lean down and kiss her again, softer this time, worshipful.
She pulls away slowly, her breath unsteady. I step back, giving her space to open her door, but I can't resist reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "Sweet dreams, beautiful."
"You too," she says, and slips inside, leaving me in the hallway tasting her on my lips. I listen for her lock, then walk to my room, already thinking about tomorrow.
The elevator dings behind me just as I reach for my key card.
I glance over my shoulder as three women spill out into the hallway, their laughter too loud for this time of night. Recognition hits a split second before they spot me. I curse under my breath.
"Wyatt!" Brittney squeals and rushes forward, her friends scrambling after her. She stumbles, catches herself on the wall, giggling. “Hold still.” She points at me.
I haven’t moved. I paste on the smile. These are the people who buy tickets, who cheer when my name comes up. The intimate moment with Kinsley evaporates into the past and I’m stuck here. I lean against the wall, not wanting to give away which room in mine. I wouldn’t put it past Brittney to hijack a maid’s key card and sneak in.
"Hey, ladies." I keep my voice easy, friendly.
Brittney leans into my side. Her friends hang back, watching with wide eyes. I don't ask their names.
"I wassoexcited when I saw your name on the call sheet for tomorrow," she gushes, her words running together slightly. "I wassoooworried when you hurt your shoulder."
Her hand lands on my shoulder, fingers trailing down my bicep in a way that makes my jaw tighten. "You don't have to worry," I say, switching to my fan voice—the one that's warm but keeps distance. "I'm tougher than I look."
I try to ease my arm away, but her fingers trail down to my hand and she grabs on. "Come back to our room and hang out for a while." She tugs, trying to pull me along.
Her friends are holding up their phones, cameras flashing. I keep the smile locked in place.
"Sorry. I need a good night's sleep," I say, gently but firmly extracting my hand from hers. "Doc's orders." I gently push her a few steps down the hall. "Let me make sure you all get to your room safely."
"Awww—" They chorus their disappointment, but they're already moving down the hallway, still snapping pictures as they go. One of them keeps the camera trained on me like she’s videoing this whole thing.
I walk them to their door, and Brittney hands me her keycard with a giggle. I wave it in front of the lock and push the door open, then gesture. "Okay, everyone inside."
They giggle, lingering in the doorway for one more photo op before finally stumbling through. I shut the door with a firm click and roll my eyes as I head back down the hallway.
By the time I get back to my door, all I can think about is how different Kinsley's touch felt—and how much I want it back.