Christine tasted of innocence and mystery. Heat and softness. It was like nothing he’d ever experienced before. His skin tingled and he felt that kick of excitement as she yielded and drew him past her lips.
He deepened the kiss as the lust licked through his veins. He dimly heard the flourishing end of the song and the crash of water. All he noticed was how Christine melted into him. The crowd dispersed, jostling them. He instinctively held her close to protect her as someone bumped into him. She clutched his jacket lapel as she hungrily returned his kiss. Travis wasn’t ready to end this. He gathered her against him until her soft curves were flush with his rock-hard body.
Travis knew they were too far from the hotel. He wanted somewhere quiet and private where he could explore Christine inch by inch. Shed their clothes and...
Tension gripped his muscles as he realized he missed something. Something important. He suddenly recalled that someone had bumped right up against him.
The crowd hadn’t been that packed. Dread settled deep in his gut. Was it one of the guys who had followed them earlier? Did they know he had the emerald in his breast pocket?
Travis abruptly pulled away from Christine. He had to stop himself from checking the emerald. Alarm scorched through him and it must have shown as he saw Christine’s guarded expression.
“I’m sorry,” he said hoarsely as he watched Christine press her fingertips against her swollen lips. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about,” she said as desire shimmered in her eyes. “You did that very well.”
He tilted his head as hope leaped into his chest. He wanted to pursue what was happening between them right now. Travis was about to reach for Christine when his cell phone buzzed. He gritted his teeth and swallowed back a growl of frustration. “I have to get this.”
Christine lowered her gaze. “Not a problem.”
He surreptitiously checked for the emerald as he retrieved his cell phone from his pocket, and wanted to sag with relief when he felt the stone. He glanced at the phone and saw Aaron’s number. He wasn’t surprised. It was a shock that his friend hadn’t contacted him until now.
Travis answered his phone. “Hello?” he asked curtly. He didn’t want any more interruptions.
“Travis? How’s it going?” Aaron asked.
“Good. Why?” Travis heard the underlying tension in his friend’s voice. He glanced around the sidewalk. Pitts and Underwood were nowhere to be seen.
“Okay.” Aaron’s voice dropped to a confiding whisper. “You know how I said you were paranoid because you thought those two guys were watching us.”
“Yeah?” He did another quick survey of the area. Nothing.
“Well, I think someone was in my hotel room.”
Travis’s head came up like an animal scenting danger. It must have been obvious as Christine looked at him with concern. He flashed her a lopsided smile as if nothing was wrong. “How do you know?”
“I did the toothpick trick you showed me,” Aaron said in a rush. “You know, put the toothpick on the top of the door and close it.”
“Found it on the floor, huh?” He didn’t need confirmation. He knew the room had been searched.
“Yes! I also did it for the bathroom door and the closet. They’re all on the floor. I got out of there as fast as I could and called you.”
“Do you need me to drop by?” Travis asked. He saw Christine’s chin dip with disappointment.
“Actually...” Aaron’s tone changed. “I need my emerald now before the game starts.”
Travis rubbed his forehead as he tried to understand his friend’s insistence on playing the game with the questionable group. Did he think this emerald had some protective spell? “You’re still going through with it?”
“Yes, of course,” Aaron replied. “And then I’ll give the stone right back to you. What could go wrong?”
Travis groaned. “Famous last words.”
“You sound different,” Aaron said.
He probably did. He hadn’t felt this frustrated in a long time. He was used to getting what he wanted, when he wanted it. But now he couldn’t follow up on this attraction that flared between him and Christine. “No,” he said through clenched teeth. “I’m good.”
“Wait a second,” Aaron said slyly. “Are you still with that hot chick?”
He glanced at Christine and their gazes held. “Yes.”
“Seriously?” his friend said in a high-pitched squawk. “How the hell did you get her to go with you?”
He couldn’t answer that because he had no idea. “I’ll be right there,” he promised with great reluctance before he disconnected the call.