Dancing With Danger (Danger Incorporated Book 10) Read online

  "I have a flight quite early in the morning," she replied, her voice soft in the quiet of the hall. Most guests had gone to sleep. "I have a meeting at work late tomorrow afternoon that I can't miss."

  Think fast. There has to be another way.

  "Then how about an early breakfast?"

  He'd pretty much thrown out his pride. It wasn't doing him any good at the moment.

  Her lips were turned down and she looked as sad as he felt. "I have to leave for the airport by five. The dining room won't even be open."

  Shit. Shit. Shit.

  Don't give up.

  "I really enjoyed talking to you tonight. We could exchange phone numbers."

  He held his breath waiting for her verdict.

  Her head tilted and she regarded him closely. "You want to call me?"

  "I do." When she didn't respond, he started to get nervous, joking his way through the tension. "But maybe you don't ever want to talk to me again. I probably bored you to death."

  "You didn't bore me to death," she said. "You're a nice man."

  "That sounds like half a sentence. You're a nice man but..."

  Pushing back a stray hair, she leaned against the door frame. "It kind of is. You're a nice man, Noah. But have you really thought this through? You say you want to call me. Then what? We talk on the phone. Send each other texts and emails. Then maybe at some point in the future we visit each other?"

  She didn't make that sound good.

  "Maybe. Is that so bad?"

  He sounded defensive and he didn't mean for it to come out that way, but he was disappointed. Clearly, she hadn't felt the sparks that he had. This had all been depressingly one-sided.

  Had it, though? Even now he could feel that awareness shimmering between them. He wasn't imagining this. It was real.

  "Not in the beginning." She sighed and shook her head. "How can I explain this? I think you're a great guy. I really do, but I've done the long-distance thing and it didn't work. Believe me when I say that we'd both end up unhappy."

  "Denver isn't that far–"

  "But Chicago is," she broke in gently, this time reaching out her hand and laying it on his arm. His flesh burned where she touched and the cotton of his dress shirt didn't make a bit of difference. "I'm hoping to get this new job. That's why I came here. If I get it then I'll be working ten or twelve-hour days. Weekends as well. You said that you do that too, Noah. Let's face it. Our timing sucks. We have demanding jobs and soon we'll live even farther apart than we already do. Modern technology can only do so much."

  Noah hated that she was making sense. He wasn't quite ready to give up.

  "We could do it...if we wanted to."

  "You think I don't want to?" Her voice broke and a silvery tear ran down her cheek. "Do you think that tonight has meant nothing to me?"

  "I don't know." Honestly, he didn't know what to do or say. He'd never been in this position before. He'd never had to struggle too hard for what he'd wanted in life. Happiness, women, friends...they'd all come easily. "I just know I don't want you to walk out of my life."

  He sounded frustrated because that's how he was feeling. He could see that same emotion reflected on Libby's face along with sadness and resignation.

  "I don't want to walk out either but I'm trying to be real here." Their fingers tangled together and he couldn't help but hold on tightly, afraid that if he let go, she'd disappear as if she'd never been there at all. "Have you ever dated someone long-distance, Noah?"

  "No," he bit out. "I haven't."

  "I have. It's not easy. We were never together and we were in different time zones, so getting in touch wasn't easy either. It all started well enough with the best of intentions. But soon our calls became scarcer and then the travel plans we'd had suddenly had to be postponed because we were so busy. And that's when the resentment and the jealousy set in. He didn't know what I was doing and I didn't know what he was doing. Eventually we had to admit that it wasn't working."

  "I would never resent you."

  She stepped closer and he caught a whiff of her perfume. Or maybe it was simply her shampoo or body wash. He wasn't honestly sure but he'd remember that scent for the rest of his life. It was imprinted on his mind and if he ever smelled spice and flowers again, he'd most certainly think of her.

  "You don't really know that," she chided, a small smile turning up the corners of her rosy lips. "We don't really know each other, although it feels like we do."

  It did feel that way but she had a point. It was emotion, not logic that had him trying to strike a bargain.

  "I don't know how to counter your argument. I'm just frustrated that I met you at the wrong time and the wrong place."

  Her eyes were shiny with tears. "I am, too. Believe me, this isn't easy for me, either."

  This time he did give in to the urge to reach out and tuck a silky stray strand of hair behind her ear. There didn't seem a good reason not to at this point. "Where does that leave us?"

  She took another step closer, close enough that their bodies were touching. Just brushing really, and it sent an ache straight from his heart, down through his gut, and to his groin. His desire for this woman had grown until it was a real, living breathing thing that he could almost reach out and touch. If his thoughts were public, they'd be a flashing neon sign over his head declaring how much he wanted to kiss her. And more.

  He wanted to reach out and pull her into his arms, capture her lips, and kiss her like there was no tomorrow. He wanted to know what she looked like in the throes of passion, and he wanted to hear his name on her lips when she tumbled over the precipice.

  Looking down at her, he could see her lips trembling and he ran the pad of his thumb across their pillowy surface as if to soothe the hurt that they were both feeling. To his surprise, she didn't pull away but instead leaned into his touch, her lids fluttering closed for a long moment. The tension that had been building between them all night was now their jailer, keeping them both locked in place, neither one of them wanting to escape.

  "Right here and now. That's all we have." Opening her eyes, her gaze locked with his, the awareness between them thicker than before. She held up her key card. "Noah, would you like to come in?"

  The invitation was out of left field. He hadn't expected it. Sure, he'd hoped but he didn't really think...

  Fuck, why was he even hesitating?

  Because I want to make sure that she's asking what I think she's asking.

  "Are you sure? I mean...are you asking me...?"

  Her tremulous smile was his answer. "We only have tonight. We've been building towards this all night, haven't we? Am I wrong?"

  No, she wasn't wrong, although he hadn't wanted to get ahead of himself. Make assumptions that weren't real. She was far more courageous than he was.

  She took his hesitation the wrong way, however. "It's okay if you–"

  "No," he said quickly, his decision made. "I do want to come in. Very much. I just wanted you to be sure."

  She slid the key card into the lock. "I'm sure."

  So was he. If they only had one night...he'd make it count.

  3

  Libby's hotel room looked exactly the same as Noah's - one king-sized bed, one dresser, one television, one round table, two chairs, and a trash can - although hers was neat as a pin. Her half-filled suitcase was sitting on the rack in the corner and a second pair of shoes were tucked under it. The top of the dresser was empty except for the usual plastic ice bucket and glasses. The drapes were open, showing off the skyline of the Windy City. There were a few million people out there but only the two of them in this room.

  Dropping her purse onto the dresser, Liz walked to the windows and switched on a lamp before closing the drapes.

  "Do you want something to drink?" she asked, turning back to him. "I put a couple of waters in the mini-fridge."

  She looked nervous, her lips trembling and her hands wrung together. Noah was nervous as well, but he didn't want her to think that she cou
ldn't change her mind if she needed to. He wouldn't press this if she didn't want him as much as he wanted her.

  "I'm fine," he replied, taking a tentative step forward. "But you go ahead if you're thirsty."

  She peeked up at him from under her lashes as she kicked off her shoes. "I'm not thirsty, either."

  He stopped in front of her, but he kept his hands at his side while trying to break the tension. "It's a little awkward, isn't it?"

  He must have said the right thing because Libby smiled. A real smile that punched him right in the gut and left him breathless.

  "It is. I mean...I don't really do this." Her eyes went round and she shook her head. "What I mean is that I have had sex, of course, but I don't make a habit of... Shit. I don't know what the hell I'm trying to say."

  This time he did reach for her, pulling her close to his body. "What you're trying to say is that you don't go around inviting strange men into your hotel rooms. Am I right?"

  Sliding her arms around his middle, she nodded. "That's it, although I wouldn't say that you were strange. You're a little goofy, sure, but strange?"

  Laughing, Noah lifted Libby up in his arms, placing her on the bed so she towered over him. "Goofy, huh?"

  Her fingers carded through his hair, the nails lightly scraping his scalp and sending a bolt of lightning straight to his groin. She was wearing a playful expression, although the tension was still there between them. Except that it had morphed from awkward to...steamy.

  Damn, it was hot in this room. He needed to get rid of his clothes.

  Better idea. Get rid of her clothes.

  Sliding his fingers under her sweater, he found the warm, satiny skin underneath. Noah bared her midriff and then pressed open-mouth kisses on her abdomen before running his tongue along the waistband of her skirt. Her fingers tightened in his hair and she groaned when he delicately nipped at her belly button.

  "Am I still goofy?"

  His voice sounded strange even to himself. Far more gravelly and deep. Already he was hot, hard, and ready but if they only had this one night, he wasn't going to hurry it for anything in the world. He wanted to savor every single moment of being with this woman.

  "Immensely," she whispered, her hands sliding down his neck and resting on his shoulders as she sunk to her knees on the mattress. "Really, really goofy. But in a good way."

  All night long Noah had been thinking about kissing Libby. Now that they were face to face and away from prying eyes, there was no way he could restrain himself any longer. He leaned down and brushed his lips over hers a few times. She tasted of chocolate and coffee and he couldn't seem to get enough of her flavor. With a groan, she pulled him closer and pressed her mouth to his, their tongues immediately tangling and playing tag while their hands tugged at their clothes.

  Her sweater easily came off over her head and his nimble fingers worked on the button of her skirt. In the meantime, she'd managed to unbutton his shirt and push it off of his shoulders and onto the floor, her haste making her clumsy. He took a step back and released the button on his pants, pushing them down and then off. The heat in her gaze as she looked him up and down made his cock ache even more. He was suddenly glad that he hadn't been slacking on the physical aspects of his job.

  She liked what she was seeing.

  Frankly, so did he. So much, in fact, that he wanted to see much more. Her sweater was long gone, leaving her kneeling on the bed in her skirt and lacy pink bra. What was it about a woman's delicate underthings that made a man crazy? The blood roared in his ears and zipped through his veins as he slowly helped her out of her skirt, revealing even more creamy skin inch by gorgeous inch, until she was in front of him wearing nothing but a couple scraps of satin and lace.

  Libby smiled teasingly, hooking her finger into the waistband of his tented boxers. "Are you going to just look?"

  Fuck, no.

  He captured her lips and they fell back onto the bed, their bodies pressed together. Surrounded by her scent, he kissed his way over her jaw and down her neck to where her pulse beat rapidly. He licked the salty skin and wound a long, silky tendril of hair around his fingers.

  Placing her hands on his chest, Libby pushed Noah up and then reached behind her to unhook her bra. Tossing it aside, she then slid her panties down her long legs and added them to the pile of clothes on the floor. Noah's mouth went dry at how fucking beautiful she was. The tight rose-colored nipples, the gentle dip of her waist and then the curve of her hips. She was so goddamned perfect and he didn't know whether to fall to his knees in worship or kiss every inch of her from toes to forehead.

  He chose the latter, because honestly it was the most fun option.

  His heart hammering against his ribs, he lifted her foot and dropped kisses on the arch and then up the calf, over the knee, nuzzling the spot where thigh met hip. Libby moved restlessly under him, her hands clutching the sheets in her balled fists. He repeated his ministrations on the other leg, wanting to imprint her on his memory, reminding himself again that there was a clock on their relationship, and they had to make the most of the time that they had.

  Nudging her legs apart with his shoulders, he pressed baby kisses to the soft skin of her inner thigh until she was moving restlessly underneath him, needing him to touch her more intimately. Tentatively, he slowly pushed a finger inside of her tight channel, and then a second, loving how the muscles clamped down on him. She was hot and slick and so ready for him. He was painfully hard as well, the ache all the way to his lower back, but he'd promised himself that he would take his time. No rushing through this.

  "Noah," she breathed so softly he barely heard her. Leaning forward, Noah gave her clit a lick, and her hips jumped at the contact.

  Not letting her catch her breath, he lapped at the swollen button while his fingers found that sweet spot deep inside of her. Libby moaned her approval, her nails clawing at the mattress as he drove her higher and higher, until she finally fell over the edge, calling his name a few times. When it was over she lay there limp and breathing heavily, a curtain of hair covering her face.

  Crawling up her body, Noah brushed her hair away and pressed a kiss to her full lips.

  "That looked like fun."

  Giggling she wrapped her arms around him so that they were skin to skin.

  "It certainly was. I'd like to return the favor."

  He desperately wanted to feel her mouth on him, but even more he wanted to be inside of her. As close as he was to coming, he couldn't take the chance. He slid a hand down her side, feeling the curves and dips.

  "I need you now. I can't last much longer."

  As confessions go, it wasn't the most romantic, but Libby didn't seem to mind. She ran her hands down his back and then back up, tangling in the curls at the back of his neck.

  "Do you have something?"

  Something. The euphemism for protection. He nodded and slid away for a moment to find his pants on the floor, rummage for his wallet, and extract two foil packets which he held up in triumph.

  "Can I help?" she asked huskily as he tore at the square with his teeth. Together, they rolled on the condom and he had to snap his jaws together to keep from coming right then and there. Her soft touch was almost more than he could handle and his sharp hiss didn't go unnoticed. She moved her hand up and down until his balls pulled up tightly and he couldn't take it any longer.

  With a ragged breath, he pulled away and rolled onto his back. "Ride me. I want to watch you."

  Straddling him, Libby balanced herself by placing her palms on his chest. Never losing eye contact, she lowered herself onto his aching cock, little by little, until he was in to the hilt. She hugged him like a velvet glove, pure perfection, and he didn't move for a long moment, instead drinking in the sight of this beautiful woman. He couldn't believe he was here with her but it was real. All of it.

  When she began to move, he couldn't hold back the moan that escaped from his lips. Sublime. Better than anything he'd experienced before. So fucking good. She
swiveled her hips and a shot of lightning zipped up his spine. Their bodies slick with sweat, they moved un unison, finding their rhythm, until he couldn't take the pressure in his lower back any longer. It was simply too much pleasure, yet he'd never get enough of her at the same time.

  He paced his thumb on her clit and circled it once...twice...three times. She exploded around him, gripping him like a vise until he too tumbled over the cliff. His orgasm felt like white hot lava running through his body and the world spun. He forced himself to keep his eyes open, not wanting to miss a minute of her.

  Libby was...incandescent.

  Her skin was shiny, her hair tumbled all around her shoulders, and her eyes heavy-lidded with passion. He'd never seen anything more lovely and he drank it in until they were both spent, their arms and legs tangled and their bodies damp and sticky. They cuddled together, not speaking for the longest time. Eventually he had to take care of the condom and while he was up, he grabbed a bottle of water from her mini-fridge, twisting it open and offering it to her. She drank down a few gulps and then handed it back before lounging against the pillows.

  The bedside lamp was still on. In their haste, they'd never turned it off. He laid back against the headboard and she scooted closer, pillowing her head on his chest. His throat tightened with emotion as they cuddled together like old lovers. But they weren't even close. Tonight was all they had.

  It wasn't a bit fair.

  Noah wasn't a child. He'd long ago realized that life was rarely fair, and he'd made his peace with that. But he couldn't help but rail against an indifferent universe that brought them together and then ripped them apart so carelessly. In another time and place...they could have had something.

  "I can order some room service if you're hungry."

  Her softly spoken offer brought him out of his reverie. Libby was looking up at him, her expression solemn. She had to be feeling the same as he was. Neither of them were happy about this but it was what it was.

  He didn't want to waste time eating food. He wanted to make love to her until he physically couldn't anymore. A glance at the bedside table told him they didn't have long.