Page 96 of Snow

Nova slowly raised the panties between them, one eyebrow quirked. “Gabe?”

Oh fuck! Snow stared at Nova’s thong panties he had stuffed into his jeans the other day. “Well, that’s awkward.”

“Why are my panties in your pocket?”

“Would you believe me if I said they’ve been there for days?”

Her eyes widened. “That somehow makes this worse.”

Snow laughed, shifting her higher against him. “I’ll explain later. Now dig deeper and find the damn key before someone comes around that corner and I have to explain why I’m carrying you through the hallway as you wave your undies like a flag.”

Nova’s lips twitched. But thank god, she stuffed them back into his pocket and grabbed the key card from the other one.

She held it up between them with a triumphant smile. “Found it. Although I’m starting to think your pockets deserve their own security clearance.”

Snow laughed, but the sound died the second her gaze dropped back to his mouth. Just like that, the humor gave way to the heat that had gotten them into this position in the first place.

“Open the door, sweetheart.”

Her eyes darkened. “In a hurry, Gabe?”

“You have no fucking idea.” He tightened his hold on her. “I need you inside that room. Now.”

Nova didn’t tease him again. She reached over and swiped the card, and the instant the light flashed green, Snow shoved the door open and carried her through.

Thank God for the storm because at the rate things were going, they wouldn’t be coming out of that room until sometime the next day.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

The second they were through the door, Nova’s back was against the wall again, and Snow’s mouth was on hers, kissing her with enough hunger to steal what little breath she had left. She wrapped her arms tighter around his neck and kissed him back just as eagerly, her heart pounding as the storm raged outside their room.

Somewhere in the back of her mind, a tiny voice reminded her that this was moving fast, that less than twenty-four hours ago she’d been crying in this man’s arms over the disaster that was her life. But when Snow pulled back just enough to look into her eyes, giving her every opportunity to slow things down, Nova realized she didn’t want to. For once, she didn’t want to analyze or second-guess what came next. She just wanted him.

When he finally pulled back, both of them breathing harder, she saw it in his eyes. The desire was there, but it was layered with control.

Nova held his gaze, her chest rising and falling as she gathered the courage she’d been dancing around for days.

“I want you.” The words felt like a free fall. It was terrifying, exhilarating, but true.

Snow’s reaction was immediate. A low, rough sound vibrated through him, sending a shiver straight down her spine as his grip tightened, pulling her flush against him. The solid heat of his body made her breath hitch, her thoughts scattering.

His mouth found her neck, and Nova’s eyes fluttered closed as his lips moved slowly, deliberately, leaving heat in their wake.

Every nerve ending lit up, her body reacting in ways she couldn’t control, and she didn’t want to.

“You have no idea what you do to me,” he murmured, his breath warm against her skin.

Her heart beat harder because she was starting to understand exactly what he meant.

One of his hands slipped under her tank top. The heat of his hand felt as if it had burned her skin, but in a good way.

His palm flattened against her ribs, then slowly slid upward before she felt his fingers brush the underside of her breast.

She arched into him, her hands gripping his shoulders as a flutter sensation rolled through her, stealing her breath.

Snow’s grip tightened beneath her thighs as he pushed away from the wall, carrying her toward the bed. This time there was less hesitation, more intent, like whatever control he’d been holding onto was slipping, piece by piece.

Nova’s pulse raced, a mix of anticipation and nerves tightening in her chest as he lowered her onto the mattress. The second her back hit the sheets, he followed, his body settling over hers—solid, warm, and grounding in a way that made her feel both safe and completely undone.