Avery stepped into the room.
“Sorry for the mess.” His deep voice vibrated through her system as he closed the door behind them. “I wasn’t planning on bringing anyone back here.”
Her lips curled slightly. Knowing he hadn’t assumed she’d be spending the night with him—or that anyotherwoman would be coming into his private room—pleased her.
“It’s fine.” Avery stepped further into the room. “My room isn’t much better, but we’re on vacation, so I figure being a little messy is allowed. I mean, it’s not like there’s anyone around to hound us about our housekeeping skills, and—”
“Avery.”
Her next words were caught in her throat. It wasn’t the first time Garrett had said her name. But it was the first time he’d said itthatway.
So deep and sensual. Sexually charged and filled with promises of things to come.
With her back still to him, she opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out. Licking her suddenly dry lips, she swallowed against the ball of nerves that had worked its way from the pit of her stomach and into the base of her throat.
“Look at me.”
The order was soft, almost gentle in its request.
Turning slowly, she spun on the smooth balls of her stilettos. The sound of her dress brushing against the wall broke through the quiet space, but it was her nervous heartbeat that filled her ears in an almost deafening way.
It’s just sex, Aves. Fun, casual sex between two consenting adults.
Listening to her inner voice, Avery turned and faced Garrett fully. Her focus remaining glued to the black tie and pristine white shirt covering the broad chest before her.
“Sweetheart, look at me.”
Her eyes lifted to meet his.
“Nothing happens that you don’t want.” Even in the shadows, his sincerity was clear to see. “If you’re not comfortable, we can leave this room right now and find something else to do. Or we can say goodnight and go our separate ways.”
Is that what she wanted? To go back to her room…alone?
“No.” Avery shook her head. “I don’t want to say goodnight.”
Garrett’s Adam’s apple bobbed with an audible swallow. “You sure?”
“Yes.”
The second the word fell from her lips, Avery realized it was the truth.
She felt the decision to stay deep inside her bones. This wasn’t just what she wanted. It was what sheneeded.
Setting her trepidation free, Avery closed the short distance between them. The toes of her shoes met his, the palms of her hands resting on his chest.
She could feel his heart racing to the same forceful rhythm of her own. She smiled, relieved from the knowledge that this strong, gorgeous man was as affected by the moment as she was.
Garrett’s warm hands fell onto her bare shoulders. His thumbs brushed along her skin, the gentle caress creating an intense current that rolled throughout her entire system, ending only when it reached the tips of her toes.
Once again, Avery was reminded of an electrical storm.
The kind that filled the night sky with sharp, jagged streaks of white. Bolts of lightning that were beautiful to watch but could be deadly if you got too close.
He won’t hurt you.
Another truth Avery felt to her bones. Garrett would never intentionally hurt her.
But as his heated blue gaze remained locked with hers, she also realized that, intentional or not, this man had the power to break her.