Up in Smoke (Crossing the Line, #2)(54)

“Connor.”

“I told you last night, Erin. That’s where I come.” He grazed her jaw with his teeth. “Every time you get jealous, remind yourself just like that. Slap it for me and say my name. Understand?”

“Yes,” she breathed.

“I want to ask you a question.” He started to say more, then stopped, taking her mouth in a hot, openmouthed kiss. She couldn’t stop her fingers from slipping into her panties and rubbing circles over her clit, mimicking the stroking movements of his tongue. It wouldn’t take any time at all to find the edge and let herself fall. Just his voice, his body, his words were driving her to the brink of climax.

Addicted. I’m addicted and I love it.

“W-what do you want to a-ask me?”

He ran his tongue up the side of her neck. “Ah, Erin. When can I get my mouth on your gorgeous *? I want it so bad. Want your heels buried in my back…your fingers yanking at my hair. You have no idea what a scream sounds like until I’ve been between your thighs with my tongue feasting on your clit.”

The orgasm blindsided her, made her shake head to toe as she writhed against her hand. “Oh my God, oh my God.”

“Good girl. That’s what you needed, wasn’t it?” His quick inhales rasping in her ear, he reached over and slammed his fist against the first-floor button. “If we had time, I’d take out my cock and f*ck you against the goddamn wall right now. Expect to get it hard later, sweetheart.”

Her legs stopped clenching as the tremors passed and she slid down his body, landing on her feet to sway back against the wall. She watched Connor adjust himself in his jeans and almost groaned at the renewed surge of arousal from seeing him touch himself. “How’s my hair?”

His mouth edged up at the corners. “Pretty f*cked up.”

She tugged her skirt back into place. “Cool.”

The elevator door rolled open and she stepped out. Before she could make it one step, Connor’s mouth found her neck and she came to a halt. Feels so good. “Hey.” The pride in his voice had her turning around to search his face. He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “You just rode an elevator.”

Shock trickled in slowly, mingling with amazement. How had she done something usually so terrifying without even realizing it? “Oh.”

“Yeah. Oh.” His smile faded into a serious expression. “Great job, sweetheart.”

“Thanks. Or…or whatever.” She’d done it because he’d been with her, distracting her. Making her feel safe. If she thought too much about it, she was going to cry, so she leaned forward and dropped a kiss over his heart. She turned and continued walking toward the clerk’s office, but not before she saw Connor press a hand over the spot she’d kissed. And f*ck if that didn’t make her want to cry even more.



Connor had never been to a wedding before, but he suspected they were usually a little more romantic than this one. Fluorescent lighting and some bored government worker’s voice droning the words you were supposed to recite didn’t feel momentous. That is, until Bowen and Sera repeated the words back to each other. Even the clerk perked up a little at the sincerity in their speech. They might as well have been the only two people on the planet for all the attention they paid everyone else. Bowen, focused on Sera as usual, looked like he wanted the words spoken and done with so he could haul her out of there over his shoulder. Sera looked like she wanted to reach out and soothe him.

Damn. This wedding shit really shouldn’t have gotten to him, but he found himself remembering how the three of them had met. How they’d all been marked for death at one point, but come out alive and better than before when any possible outcome had seemed bleak. How they’d formed an unlikely friendship even though they’d been on opposing sides, pitted against one another. For the first time in his life, he’d watched good triumph over evil. They’d come a long way in such a short space of time, and it hit home now, as they made even more promises to each other.

Not surprisingly, he found himself looking at Erin. He’d always given Bowen a hard time for his obsession with Sera and her safety. His constant vigilance and fear of something happening to her. He could understand it now. Jesus, could he ever. As if he’d spoken out loud, Erin looked over at him from her position behind Sera and stuck out her tongue. A smile transformed her face and she ducked her head, as if embarrassed she’d let the show of happiness slip. If it was up to him, he’d be seeing a lot more of that beautiful smile. He wanted to see it constantly, and he wanted it directed at him.

Before the clerk had even gotten finished pronouncing Bowen and Sera husband and wife, Bowen launched himself across the space separating him from his new wife and wrapped her in his arms. Erin gave Connor a meaningful look and backed away quietly, obviously wanting to give the couple their space. The clerk scratched his head, appearing to be at a loss for what to do with the embracing couple, but Erin didn’t seem inclined to stick around and offer her assistance. Connor followed her from the room, checking the urge to rest his hand at the small of her back. All in good time.

Two men in suits entered the elevator with them on the way back down to the lobby. Erin scowled at their backs the entire way and he would have laughed if he weren’t still feeling the evidence of what they’d done earlier. His pants felt tight, his mouth unsatisfied from not tasting enough of her. As soon as they got home, he would remedy that. Thinking of creative ways to get her off without his hands was fast becoming his favorite pastime.