Shockwave
The light show lasted about fifteen minutes. When it ended,
the crowd began to shift. The mass of people pushed them closer together and
Kate turned into him, her hands resting on his chest. He looked down, her eyes
lifting toward his. He could feel the heat rising in his neck, and he struggled
to contain the need beginning to stir within him.
The crowd around them got aggressive and they almost lost
their balance.
“Piggyback?”
“Sounds like a plan.” She grabbed his margarita and he
turned and squatted in front of her. She climbed on his back, wrapping her legs
around his waist, and within moments, they were fighting through the crowd. He
pushed, and she navigated.
It took a little time, but they managed to make their way
out and hail a cab back to the hotel. Stumbling into the hotel laughing, they
managed to navigate their way to the elevators. They stepped in and
concurrently forgot the floor of their rooms.
“Twenty-three is sticking in my brain.” She leaned against
the back of the elevator.
“Twenty-three it is.” Jack pushed the button and leaned
against the wall next to her.
“You‟d think they would put it on your key or something.”
“What‟s your room number?” His brain flipped
like a coin in mid-air.
“2509.”
He looked at her with a smile.
“Seriously?”
She reached forward, pushed the button for twenty-five.
He laughed.
“What‟s your room number, Tucker?”
“Ah…I…well…I have no fucking idea!”
“See!” She stepped back leaning next him. “So I don‟t want
to hear any sass out of you about my twenty-three!”
“My sass will remain closed.” The heat of her body made his
head spin more than it already was.
“That‟s why!”
“Why what?”
“I finally understand why she calls you Sass. I didn‟t see
it before, but now I definitely agree that you are…”
Abruptly the doors opened and they turned to move out of the
elevator. He realized they were on the wrong floor and pulled her back.
“What are you doing?”
“Twenty-five remember, not twenty-three.”
“Oh yeah.” She turned to him with a lopsided smile. It hit him
like a hammer. He realized it was the first time he had ever really seen her
smile. It lit up her face, and he couldn‟t help but smile.
back. “Do you know that saying?”
“What saying?”
“The whole, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas thing.”
“Yes, I am familiar with it.” The doors of the elevator
opened again and he gently turned her around, moving her forward into the
hallway.
“Well you need to make sure you understand that saying
because well…” She rummaged through her pockets for her key. “I am breaking so
many rules right now you wouldn‟t believe it.”
“Rules?”
She stopped at her door, leaning against it, key card in
hand. Jack watched her struggle to maintain her mental and physical balance.
“Yes, rules. Many, many, rules.”
“What kind of rules?” Warmth enveloped him, and he felt
himself pulled to her. Her scent and deep eyes drew him in, and he was
powerless to resist.
“Important rules.”
His palms rested on the door, trapping her between his arms,
and a deep sigh escaped her lips.
“Very important rules.”
“Kate…” He breathed her in, just inches away from her lips.
“Yes?” Her emerald eyes shone brightly up at him.
“Forget the rules.” He caressed her cheek with his thumb,
his heart pounding against his chest. Jack let go of his fear and covered her
mouth with a passionate kiss.
He expected the moment of surprise. Then she kissed him
back, her arms wrapping around his neck pulling him closer. After a hesitant
but passion-filled exploration of the other‟s lips, their touch parted, and he
bit back a groan. He didn‟t want to stop. He wanted to keep kissing her
forever.
“Jack.”
Breathless he stared into her emerald eyes.
“I should go…”
His forehead rested against hers, keeping her trapped
against the door. His left hand wrapped in her hair, while his right rested on
her hip. He had no snappy response, just the need to kiss her again. It started
hesitantly, his lips caressing hers, and then exploded into a passionate need.
He explored her mouth, feeling her softness beneath his hands, and he thought
he would go mad. Never consumed with such intense need in his entire life, he
felt high within her scent, and silently protested when she pulled back.
“Jack, we can‟t—” She gasped for air.
“Why?” His pounding heart drowned out everything but the
sound of her voice.
“You know why.” Her eyes smoldering, she turned her back to
him, and pulled out her key.
His arms remained around her, and he pulled her against his
chest. He shifted her hair off her neck, and began to nuzzle. He heard the door
lock beep, his arm holding her trapped against him. She was making him crazy,
her supple body sending shivers of need through him,“Katie.”
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