Grace slid onto the stool Cass offered and fell into easy conversation with the other woman. Something quiet moved through Justin. She was amazing. Brilliant. Beautiful. And he only knew one way to convince her what he was experiencing was absolute truth.
Stepping up to the chair, he slid his hand under Grace’s mass of hair and gripped her neck, angling her face toward him even as he leaned into her. He didn’t ask for permission. He didn’t offer excuses. He wanted her to know how desperate he was for her, how incredible she was to him.
There were teeth and tongues and short breaths, all mingling as he struggled to offer her some measure of selflessness. Because in the midst of the kiss, one thing had become crystal clear to Justin.
Grace Cooper was the woman for him.
13
GRACE BARELY REMEMBERED to breathe. Justin’s kiss did that to her. Part of her wanted to protest and demand he stop, but that voice was so tiny compared to the singular chorus of “Yes!” every other part of her was singing.
Heat flooded her pelvis and she swiveled to face him, opening her legs to settle him between her thighs. Her hands framed his face to offer far more support than direction. She wasn’t sure he noticed.
His tongue plundered her mouth, aggressive and demanding.
She sighed, relaxing and letting him control the moment entirely. Giving up control was an experience in itself, one that left her craving his control in a more intimate way. She suddenly wanted it all from him, and maybe that was wrong. She wasn’t sure. All she knew for certain was that the man in her arms burned as hot for her as she did for him. And that’s what she’d needed tonight.
He broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers, his hands on the upper swells of her hips. “Hi.”
Her voice evaded her. She cleared her throat and then coughed. “We went over this greeting thing you’ve got going on, Dr. Maxwell.”
“We did. I wondered if you’d remember.”
“It was fifteen minutes ago. Did we ever decide who greets like this?”
“I believe it was decided we do.”
She fought not to smile and failed. “I don’t remember agreeing to that.”
“You didn’t. I decided for us.” Justin glanced at Cass. “Give us a minute?”
“Gentlemen, I need a drink from the bar and it’s going to take all three of us to get it. Move that fine ass, Levi,” she sing-songed when he lagged behind.
Alone, Justin faced Grace. “I want you.”
Eyes sparkling, she cocked her head. “Seems like a very public venue. Wait. Don’t tell me. You’re secretly an exhibitionist who’s been waiting to come out to his friends, and I’m just the girl to help you do it.”
“Well, I am a stripper...” He traced a thumb along her jaw. “No. No jokes.”
Her brow furrowed as her smile faded. Confusion fogged her mind. “I don’t get what you’re after here.”
“I want you, Grace. That’s no secret. What if we tried exclusivity?”