He leaned down, bringing his gaze level with hers. “Next time you’re wantin’ to watch me at the weights, turn off the machine first, and come pull up a chair.”
* * *
Quinn sawElizabeth’s eyes go wide, her cheeks flaming scarlet.
“You!” She glared at him, gave him a wee shove.
“Me?” He fought not to laugh. Och, she was adorable when she was angry. “It was you gawpin’ at me and you who fell. What didIdo?”
“Oh, like you’ve never stared at my ass before.” Furious now, she gave herself a slap on the bum and then cupped her breasts through her T-shirt. “Or ogled my tits.”
The sight of her cupping her own breasts sent blood rushing to his groin and brought his gaze to the exact place it should not be.
Sweet blazin’ hell!
“Aye, I’ll no’ deny it. We’re both adults. What’s the harm in lookin’?”
His words seemed to make her angrier. She opened her mouth as if to blister his ears—then leapt into his arms and kissed him.
Quinn caught her, drew her hard against him, his shock washed away by a rush of lust. He forgot about Jack’s murder. He forgot they were in the hotel gym. He forgot that they shouldn’t be doing this, because,sweet Jesus, they ought to have done it years ago. He forgot everything but Lilibet—her taste, the soft feel of her body against his, the sweet scent of her skin.
Och, the woman could kiss. She took everything he could give her and demanded more, her tongue teasing his, her teeth nipping his lips—
“Is this man harassin’ you, miss?”
Elizabeth went stiff in Quinn’s arms, the two of them opening their eyes to find a young security guard walking toward them.
Quinn set Elizabeth on her feet, trying not to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. “We’re just havin’ a wee snog, aye?”
“Miss?” The man didn’t seem to believe Quinn, but waited for Elizabeth to answer. “It didnae look like snoggin’.”
It took Quinn a moment to understand the accusation—a measure of how distracted he was just now. The guard must have seen Elizabeth shove him on the surveillance feed and had gotten the wrong idea.
Fuck.
Elizabeth gave the man that beautiful smile of hers. “I’m fine. Thank you. I fell off the machine. He helped me up and teased me about it, so I gave him a shove and, um, kissed him. I guess we forgot where we were. I’m so sorry we worried you, but I do appreciate your concern for my safety.”
“If you’re certain, miss…”
“Yes, thank you.”
Quinn couldn’t fault the guard for watching out for women, but the thought that anyone could believe him capable of abusing Elizabeth set his temper on edge. He wasn’t that sort of man. No matter what anyone said, he was nothing like his father. Some part of him wanted an apology, but that would make him a right prick.
The guard was just doin’ his job, aye?
Elizabeth turned to Quinn. “I’m done with my run. I’ll see you upstairs.”
“Aye, I’m comin’, too.”
The security guard walked out of the gym with them. “Enjoy your stay wi’ us.”
“Thank you.” Elizabeth made small talk with Quinn until the lift doors closed behind them, giving them privacy. Her smile vanished, her gaze dropping to the floor. “I’m sorry. That was my fault. I…”
“Dinnae apologize unless you truly regret it. You kissed me, and, from what I could tell, you liked it as much as I did.”
Her head snapped up, her gaze locking with his. “It shouldn’t have happened.”
He couldn’t resist. “So, next time you come at me, I should fend you off, aye?”