Or after?
“I know you will do everything you can to make that happen.” She absentmindedly brushed her thumb across his strong jaw. “But you’re not a superhero, Lucky. You can only do what you can do.”
Leaving little space between their bodies, he kept his gentle hold on her face as he inched in closer. “I don’t think you understand, sweetheart.” His hot breath hit her chin as he spoke, the sensation sending a line of shivers racing down her spine. “I’ll protect you with my life, if that’s what it takes to keep that big heart of yours beating strong.”
Her tiny hitch of a breath cut through the air, filling the otherwise quiet room. “I don’t want you getting hurt because of me, Lucky,” Ellie whispered back She couldn’t bear the thought. “I’m not…I’m nothing to you.” Another nervous lick of her lips. “I’m certainly not worth—”
Lucky’s mouth was on hers before she could even register his intent. Stunned by the unexpected move, Ellie froze beneath his touch as her whirling mind tried catching up to the surprising turn of events.
One second she was trying to convey her unfavorable opinion on his putting himself in harm’s way for her sake, and the next…
The next, she felt herself melting into his arms.
The kiss wasn’t soft or hesitant. It wasn’t sweet or feather-light. It was hot. Wild. All-consuming. Just like the man, himself.
Just like Lucky.
Ellie parted her lips as his remained pressed against hers. Their tongues met, and passion erupted.
Lucky’s deep, guttural moan traveled from his body into hers. The sound was like a rush of fuel being poured onto an already burning flame. Before she even realized she was moving, Ellie let her hands drop lower, her palms cupping the swells of his perfectly toned ass.
Using the new leverage to her advantage, Ellie brought his body impossibly closer to hers. The bulge of his hard, swollen cock pushed greedily against her sex. Lucky moaned again, his kiss becoming almost feverish as he began slowly guiding her backward.
With one hand still cupping the side of her face, he used the other to steady her hip as they continued moving as one. Seconds later, Ellie felt her back hit the wall behind her.
The smooth structure near the room’s open doorway forcing them both to a sudden stop. Their feet may have halted in their movements, but the solid structure did nothing to deter them.
Lucky’s conscience, on the other hand…
“We shouldn’t be…doing this,” he whispered breathlessly as his mouth continued to devour hers. “I’m supposed to be protecting you, not…” Lucky’s words fell silent as his soft, wet lips moved to the edge of her jaw.
“You are protecting me.” Ellie closed her eyes and tilted her head to the side to give him better access. “Besides, I don’t see any threats here. Do you?”
They were locked away in the safety of Lucky’s highly secured apartment. Nothing here was a threat to her life. Now, her heart on the other hand…
Something told her the swelling, racing organ was in immediate danger of being stolen. And yet, even knowing this, Ellie couldn’t seem to find the will to stop.
“Not the point, sweetheart,” Lucky protested even as he continued tormenting her in the most delicious of ways.
When he began leaving a trail of hot, wet kisses along the side of her neck, Ellie couldn’t keep the tiny moan from escaping the back of her throat. “Then what…” She gasped when his tongue licked a particularly sensitive spot. “Whatisyour point?”
For the first time since slamming his lips to hers, Lucky pulled himself away and looked her in the eyes. The blues there had darkened with a depth of arousal she innately knew matched her own.
But there was something else there. A war that had been brewing within him. Some sort of internal struggle she couldn’t possibly understand. Not until he started to explain.
“You’ve had a shit night, El.” Lucky’s darkened gaze remained locked with hers. “Your emotions are probably all overthe place right now. Understandably so.” He hurriedly added that last part. Rolling those talented lips inward, his chest rose and fell with a full, deep breath. “I can’t…Iwon’ttake advantage of that.” A hard swallow. “Or of you.”
A comforting warmth spread throughout her entire system. If this man hadn’t already begun to worm his way into her guarded heart, that right there would’ve done it.
“You aren’t taking advantage of anything, Lucky.” Ellie reached up, her fingertips caressing the short, dark hair at his temple. “And yeah, some asshole burned down my apartment tonight. But walking out of this room and going to bed alone won’t change anything.” Her thumb brushed across the bulging muscle in his strong jaw. “George Ray Harvey will still be on the run, and whoever took a shot at me and burned down my home—whether its him or someone else—they’ll still be out there, regardless.” She pushed herself up onto her tiptoes and leaned in for a quick nibble of his bottom lip.
Lucky’s lids fell shut as he continued his attempts to deny them what she knew they both wanted. “Damn it, El. I’m trying to do the right thing here.”
“The right thing for who?” she whispered softly. “If it’s your job you’re worried about, don’t be.” Another teasing nip. “I won’t tell if you don’t. And I promise not to sue.”
Meaning that last part as a joke, Ellie was relieved when she saw the tempting smile forming across Lucky’s stunning face.
“It’s not the firm I’m worried about, it’s…”