That confession made his heart rate soar. “I’ve missed you, too. So damn much.”
She pressed her lips to his and kissed him with such tenderness. “Thank you for helping me through that. No matter how uptight I am, you always have this calming effect on me.”
“You have the same effect on me,” he murmured.
On a throaty moan, she left her seat, returning with napkins to wipe up the spill. Then, she excused herself to the lavatory.
In an attempt to redirect his thoughts and quell his growing need, he fetched his laptop from his computer bag and scrolled through emails.
A moment later, she returned. “Any leads on the club fire?”
He showed her the surveillance video of a man dressed in black, his face concealed by a hoodie.
“I’ll bet that’s your guy. But he’s not making it easy on us, is he?”
Her use of the word “us” wasn’t lost on him. “The arson detective emailed me. They’re checking for an accelerant and hope they can trace its whereabouts.”
She sipped the lukewarm coffee. “Why are you getting out of the kink business?”
“Time to move on.” He offered her a ripe strawberry. As her lips closed over the bright red fruit, he envisioned her mouth around him. Heat blasted him as she chewed the succulent berry.
“Everything ends, doesn’t it?” A flicker of sadness flashed in her eyes.
“Not everything,” he said. “Some things are meant to last forever.”
“Mmm.” She studied his face for a few seconds. “Maybe so.”
The three-hour flight passed quickly. When the plane touched down and taxied to a stop, Sin thanked his pilot and they exited the craft. The balmy Florida air felt phenomenal compared to the frigid D.C. temps they’d escaped. After picking up a rental car, he drove them straight to the condo.
“Good evening, Mr. Develin,” said the valet.
He greased the man’s palm, took Evangeline by the arm, and escorted her into the pristine building.
“This is beautiful,” she said.
A circular white sofa took up a chunk of real estate in the spacious lobby, while dozens of tiny lights dangled overhead like stars in the night sky. The rear wall of windows faced the ocean. One wall housed a plant garden, the vines growing in a haphazard direction. At the nearby desk, the concierge smiled warmly.
“Good evening, Mr. Develin, ma’am.”
Sin acknowledged the man with a nod before continuing on to the elevators.
The luxury penthouse condo boasted magnificent views from every direction. After Sin opened the French doors, they stood on the balcony while the valet brought in their bags.
The ocean always soothed him. Closing his eyes, he inhaled the salty air. The gentle breeze carried away the constant pressures of his life.If only this were a vacation…
“Is the condo yours?” she asked.
“The six of us— Dakota, Maverick, Colton, Crockett, Jagger, and I—bought it years ago. Now, we’re all too busy to enjoy it.” He extended his hand. “How ‘bout a tour?”
She slid her hand into his and his skin heated. He was not a hand holder, but he craved her touch. As they walked from room to room, he caressed her soft skin with his thumb.
When the tour ended in the living room, she broke away and asked about the plan. He suggested they stop for dinner on the way to Rico’s.
“I’m going to change. Meet you back here.” She grabbed her overnight bag and retreated into one of the guest bedrooms at the end of the hall.
He didn’t like being separated from her, but she needed to feel safe in his home. That, above all else, was his driving motivation. Home was theoneplace where a person shouldalwaysbe secure. Because of that, he would never infringe on her space.
After showering, he changed into a black shirt and black pants, then dropped into a chair on the balcony to wait for her. When she joined him, adrenaline shot through him.