Joshua Healy (The Mitchell/Healy Family #10)(17)

The hotel I’ve checked into has a keycard entrance. Josh shoots me a text when he arrives and I hurry down to get him. The moment our eyes meet I know something is bothering him. He manages a smile, but it’s forced, not like his normal amusing grimace. We stand face to face for a second, awkwardly wondering how to greet each other. He finally opens his arms and welcomes me with a hug. I hear him smelling my hair like he did the night before, obviously looking for something familiar, so I ask right away. “Are you okay, Josh?”

“I should be asking you the same thing. You’re the one hiding out in a hotel.”

I shrug. “It’s better than home.” I pull him into the elevator, and as the doors close we part ways and stare at each other from afar. He’s leaning on one side, while I rest my head against the other. I yawn, which causes him to smile. “Have you slept at all?”

I shake my head. “Not really.”

“You slept last night,” he reminds me.

“We … The elevator doors open to my floor, so I drop the subject. “This is us.”

He follows me to the room, and as we walk I know exactly what will happen if I let him inside. This isn’t me. I don’t do this type of thing, but in this instance I can’t imagine being with anyone else.

It’s strange, wanting the company of this man, and knowing he brings me comfort. We step inside the room, the door closing behind me. I lean on it and wait for him to take in the surroundings. He turns to face me and draws one hand up to stroke the side of my face. “You put makeup on when you knew I was coming, didn’t you?”

I shrug. “Habit.”

He sighs heavily. “My day went to shit the moment I dropped you off.”

I can feel the heat rising to my cheeks. He’s got me flustered already. “What happened?”

Josh shakes his head. “It’s not important.” He brings both hands up into my hair and brings his lips to mine. He’s slow, his tongue stroking mine once before pulling away. “You should get some sleep.”

“What makes you think I can?”

He pulls me toward the bed. “I’ve seen it happen.” He kicks off his boots and lifts his shirt over his head. I honestly don’t know what to expect. Is he stripping because he thinks we’re going to screw again? Is this how he lives his life. “Hang on. I’m not…”

“Do you want me to sleep in my jeans?”

“So you don’t want…Never mind. I thought…”

“You thought I came for a booty call? It crossed my mind. It would probably help take the edge off my day.” He shakes his head. “I just want some company, Tamsyn.”

I nod quickly, still unsure of his intentions. “Okay.”

He finishes undressing until he’s in a pair of boxer briefs, then slips under the covers on one side of the bed. I keep my shirt and cotton shorts on and join him, feeling a bit uncomfortable. He pulls me against his strong, warm body and holds me in a comforting hug. I bring my hands around his back and we lay there saying nothing.

After a while his gruff voice speaks as softly as he’s able. “Love sucks, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah.” I keep my eyes closed as I say it. “It hurts.”

“It makes you wonder why people give it another go.”

“Crazy.” I’m beginning to feel so relaxed that I’m falling victim to my exhaustion. I can feel him playing with the ends of my still damp hair. Something is on his mind, but I don’t want to ask. “I’m glad I met you, Josh. I don’t know what I would have done last night without you around to pick me up.”

“The feeling is mutual.”

Suddenly I’m wide awake. I sit up with my elbows on his chest and peer into his open eyes. “What are we doing? If this is just sex for you…”

He kisses me before I can finish, and in those seconds I’m lost again. His hands dig into my hair as he holds me close. Next thing I know my shirt is being lifted over my head. He sits up so I’m straddling him and buries his face in my chest, pressing my breasts together so that he’s able to lick and suck them at the same time. I throw my head back and let him have his way with me, because I can’t deny how good it feels to be wanted. When he begins to work his way down my abdomen I suck in a heavy breath. I know where he’s headed, and it’s freaking me out.

My fingernails comb through his thick dark hair, while Josh gets comfortable between my legs. He kisses around my right inner thigh, blowing warm air over my exposed *. I can feel my body reacting, desperate for this man I hardly know to give me pleasure. I’ve spent the entire day wishing I could regret being with him, yet he’s giving me more reasons not to.

With the skill of his tongue, he flicks over my lower lips, drawing his saliva around while his gruff face tickles my most sensitive area. I’m going crazy and he hasn’t even gotten to the good part. A tiny cry escapes me when I feel his warm tool circle over my clit. My nipples tingle, my back arching as two fingers dive into my channel. Josh brings his head up to look for my reaction. He snickers, those dimples full, before ducking down and getting to work.

He’s going at it, causing my toes to curl as I begin to experience my first orgasm. I’m crying out, one hand digging into his hair while the other clings to the sheets beneath us. My body trembles as he kisses his way up, removing his fingers, but still petting the tender area. His mouth courses over mine as his sex-drunk eyes try to read my expression. “I can’t get enough of you.”