He chuckled, and it didn’t matter how many times I’d heard it that night—it pleasantly surprised me each time. “Yep. Don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes for our bank heist on Saturday.”
Laughing, I swayed into him.
He dropped my finger and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. As I’d imagined, it felt safe and good. He had me in height by at least a foot, but with me pressed against his front, we were the perfect fit. I took a minute to absorb his warmth before forcing myself away. As much as I hated to go, leaving was the only way to speed up to the weekend.
He walked me to my car and waited for me to unlock the door before pulling it open like a gentleman. From Bowen, I wouldn’t have expected any less.
“Be careful driving home.”
“I will,” I chirped.
I tossed my purse onto the passenger seat and started to climb in, when a thought pulled me up short. I hadn’t said it earlier during our brief discussion about the plane crash, but it felt wrong to leave it unspoken.
“Hey, Bowen?”
“Yeah,” he replied, grinning down at me.
“I want you to know that you can take all the time you need…ya know, getting your head straight. I can tell how much you loved her, and that’s never a bad thing. If you ever feel up to talking, I’d love to hear about her someday.”
His smile fell immediately, but I didn’t regret saying it. It was important to me that he knew my concern about him moving on wasn’t out of jealousy. I didn’t know him well yet, but I wanted to. And if that happened, a day would come when he’d have questions about my past too. I couldn’t expect acceptance and understanding without first offering the same to him.
“Anyway…I just needed you to know that. Have a good night, Bowen.”
When I started to get into my car again, his hand came down on my arm. The tug he gave me, turning me to face him, wasn’t rough, but it definitely wasn’t gentle.
And neither was his mouth as it came down over mine.
A low growl vibrated in his chest, and my body hummed as he palmed the side of my face, his tongue exploring my mouth with a tangible desperation. I moaned, clinging to his sides as he guided me backward. I had no idea how he could still be spatially aware as he ravaged my mouth with the most erotic kiss of my entire life, but he turned our bodies so my back gently landed against the rear door.
His chest came flush with mine, his entire presence engulfing me in heat, branding me in ways I’d never be able to explain.
I couldn’t breathe.
I couldn’t see.
All I could do was feel him consuming me with every stroke of his tongue.
Little by little, the frenzy slowed, but even when he did finally break the kiss, he didn’t move away. “Remi,” he panted into my mouth.
“That’s me,” I panted back for lack of better words. Or, ya know, thoughts in general.
His quiet laugh breezed across my skin, and then he was back to kissing me—deep and dizzying.
I didn’t know how long we stood there, mouths fused, hearts pounding. It could have been hours just as easily as seconds. Regardless, it wasn’t long enough. As fast as it had started, with one final peck, it was over. He took my hand and pulled me away from the car, his other arm folding around my hips. But it wasn’t the same without his mouth.
“Remi, look at me.”
Boneless, I sagged in his strong arms, my lids fluttering open.
Bowen stared into me, a storm brewing in his eyes. It wasn’t quite angry, but it was unsettling all the same.
“Are you…okay?” I asked.
He searched my face, a slow and tangible inspection. “Are you?”
“Mmmm, your pocket protector might be in danger of being revoked after a kiss like that, but yeah, I’m pretty damn sure I’m just fine. I think this is what the accounting world calls a swoon surplus.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed, and then whatever kiss-induced trance he was in vanished. One side of his mouth hiked a fraction. “You’re lucky I have a new affinity for that sexy mouth, smartass.” He pinched my side. “Now, go. Get out of here, and text me when you get home so I don’t have to worry.”
I smiled. “You don’t have to worry about me.”
His eyes got dark, but he took my hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed the back. “Really? Because I’m starting to think you’re the only thing I should be worried about.”
I bit my bottom lip.
I could have stood there with him all night. It didn’t matter that we were in a parking lot. Or that I would have gotten no sleep. I would have been with Bowen, and that would have been more than enough. But at his urging, I slid into my car. I grinned huge when he leaned in one last time, pecked me on the lips, and closed my door. Then he stood on the curb, watching as I drove out of sight.
