That One Moment (Lost in London #2)(59)

“Hayden,” I say in a warning tone, but he ignores me and pulls his phone from his pocket. “Hayden!” I exclaim, stamping my foot on the wet pavement in annoyance.

His eyes flash to my bare legs and a hardened look shutters over his face. “Bunny.”

I shake my head and begin walking backwards away from him, offering coyly, “We don’t have to walk…We can run!” I shout and turn, taking off in a dead sprint through the downpour.

“Vi!” Hayden shouts. Excitement flies through me as I feel his approaching footsteps behind me. The rain clings to my dress as I grip my clutch firmly and continue running while squinting against the heavy pelts of water. He catches up to me in seconds and shakes his head, glaring angrily at me in the rain. “You stubborn woman.” An odd smile spreads across his face as he tries to look mad, but fails. There’s those sexy crinkles again.

“It’s raining cats and dogs!” I bellow, throwing my hands out wide and smiling as if it’s just another Thursday.

He shakes his head in admonishment. “I thought you’d be faster, Bunny. You’re a Harris footballer’s daughter for Christ’s sake.”

My eyes narrow with a renewed sense of determination. I do my best to pick up the pace, but it seems useless. Hayden doesn’t even look like he’s trying. A giggle erupts from my mouth as I hear him chuckling at me.

We make it to my neighbourhood, passing the bustling Hookah Lounge, and round the corner down the alley to my flat. I fall backwards onto the brick wall beside my lift, completely drenched, and push the wet strands off my face. My chest heaves while my laughter dies down and I attempt to catch my breath. Hayden comes to a stop in front of me, propping his hands on his knees as I dig in my clutch for my keys. He watches me out of the corner of his eye. My hand freezes on my keys as our gazes lock through the sheet of rain separating us. A loud crack of thunder causes me to flinch and a huge burst of lightning illuminates the darkened alley, shedding a clear blue light on the true, unbelievable, and intensely gripping face of Hayden.

My breath is gone. Sucked straight from my lungs and slammed into my chest. Into my heart. Like a lightning bolt. He slowly stands upright. Something simmering deep and hungry in the grey pools of his eyes makes me gasp.

He swallows hard and nods slowly as he steps closer to me. “I want this,” his voice cracks as he trails the backs of his fingers from my cheek, to my breasts, to my belly and then to my hip. He yanks me into him so our bodies are flush against each other. With his forehead resting against mine, he whispers as if in pain, “I want you.”

I shake my head, feeling confused over his sudden comments. It’s as if he was having an entire conversation with himself during our run here. Now he’s finally made up his mind and is putting it out into the universe for acknowledgement.

“I want you too—” I start, but I am immediately silenced by his mouth on mine in a painful, biting, and frenzied kiss.

He shoves me up against the wall and grabs my legs so they wrap firmly around him. He presses his hardened erection against me and I cry out into his mouth as a desperate ache explodes inside of me. Fisting my hair in his hands, he holds my face just where he wants it to kiss me…and kiss me…and kiss me. God, he kisses me like a starved man who’s found the only item in his world that could ever satisfy him.

“Let me in, Vi,” he commands while dipping his head to nip along the edge of my jaw. “Let me up and let me in. Please.”

His request stings my eyes and I swear I could cry real, wet tears just from his words. Everything south of my waist is screaming at me to let him in. But the one organ that I’m most terrified of—the one I’m not sure he’s asking for—is the one cracking at his raw and guttural words.

He releases me and I shakily open the lift doors. The moment we step inside, we collide. He licks and sucks my neck and collar bone as I punch the button for the eleventh floor. As we begin our climb, he pulls my soaked dress up over my body, revealing my white, lacy bra and thong, both also soaked from the rain…and other things.

“Bunny,” he murmurs. He crouches over and grabs hold of my nipple with his mouth through the sheer fabric while aggressively caressing my other in his palm. Then, he glides his hands down my hips and hisses as he slides his fingers beneath the edges of my thong.

The doors open suddenly and Bruce comes barreling in, pouncing on the back of Hayden. Hayden widens his stance to protect my nearly naked body from Bruce’s assault. Curses!

Hayden chuckles and turns, telling me to hop up on his back.

Well, this is a first.

He carries my nearly naked butt, still wearing my soaked Converse, through my flat and into the kitchen. I tell him which cupboard the bones are in, and he grabs one and tosses it into the living room where Bruce goes tearing after it.

Hayden continues to my room and closes the French doors on a besotted-looking Bruce with a bone hanging from his mouth. Sorry, buddy. I’ll make it up to ya! Promise!

He releases me, slowly sliding me down his back and turning to face me. He smiles sweetly and kisses my lips, brushing my nose as he pulls away. That crinkly thing around his eyes returns just before a look of nervousness takes hold. “We don’t have to, Vi. If you’re not ready or if you think we shouldn’t.”

“What was it you said you’d do if I stamped my foot again?” I whisper into his ear and lightly trail my tongue along his lobe. It’s cold and wet from the rain, as is the thin shirt concealing his body. I’m normally not so sexually bold, but everything with Hayden is different.