“It’s your choice, Christine,” Travis said. “What do you want to do?”
She took a deep breath. She wasn’t going to talk herself out of this. She always did that and then regretted it.
But this time she needed to make the first move. That was completely out of her comfort zone. She never grabbed what she wanted. She always waited for permission. For her turn.
Forget that. This was her chance. It was time for her to take a risk. If she didn’t do this, she would regret missing the opportunity.
“Travis?” she said, her voice sounding high to her ears. He must have heard it, too. Travis went still and cast a quick glance at her.
She wasn’t sure what to say. Maybe this was one of those times when words weren’t necessary. Her chest rose and fell with each uneven breath as she took a step forward. Travis watched her intently, but he remained silent.
Christine slid her hands over his chest. He was warm and muscular. She frowned when her hand bumped against something solid in his shirt pocket. His fingers suddenly wrapped around her wrists. For a moment she couldn’t tell if he was going to reject her advances.
This wasn’t going as well as she had hoped. She had expected him to meet her halfway. Sweep her up into his arms and kiss her. But did a worldly, mysterious woman allow the man to take charge? She doubted it. If she wanted Travis, she would have to act like her alter ego.
Christine’s heart was pounding ferociously as she leaned forward and kissed him. She meant for it to be bold and powerful, but the moment her lips touched his, she softened against him. Her mouth clung to him as she felt his surprise.
Travis dropped her wrists and held her face in his calloused hands. She tasted the urgency, the pulsating need as he gave her a hard, possessive kiss. She wanted to melt into him when he lifted his head.
“What were you saying, Christine?” he asked hoarsely as his eyes glittered with desire. She felt the throbbing response deep in her belly. No man had looked at her like that before.
She curled her hands against his shoulders. He felt strong and solid underneath her touch. “I don’t feel like sightseeing anymore.”
His mouth tilted up into a wicked smile. “What do you want to do?”
She suddenly felt shy. Christine looked away and paused. She was a brazen and sophisticated woman, she reminded herself. Christine slowly lifted her head and met Travis’s gaze. “I want to take you back to my room.”
“Lead the way.”
6
CHRISTINE DIDN’T SPEAK to Travis as she led him to her room. Words were jumbled in her mind and her throat felt tight and thick. She felt awkward and clumsy as she slid the key card into the lock. She experienced a wave of relief as the green light flickered, and her hands trembled as she wrenched the door open.
She stepped inside her dark hotel room and turned around. Travis stood in the doorway, his hands bracing the frame. His eyes were piercing. She felt the urgency ripple from his body, but he waited for her to make the next move.
“Invite me in,” he said roughly.
He knew. He knew that she was nervous. She was afraid to reach for the opportunity only to have it disappear—or, worse, confirm her fears that she wasn’t exciting. That she wasn’t good in bed.
But she hadn’t felt like this with another man. And Travis was hers for the taking. He had been since the moment they met next to the slot machine. She’d only needed the courage to take the next step. Reach out and claim him.
“I’ll wait.” His voice was a rasp. “It’s not going to be easy. I want you now, but I will wait until you make the first move.”
Christine shivered. She didn’t realize how important it was for her to hear those words. She needed to know that he wanted this as much as she did. But she wanted it to be memorable for Travis. This one-night stand was going to mean more to her than to him.
“Travis...”
“I know this could be from the adrenaline rush of winning.” He reached out and cupped her cheek with his warm and large hand.
She didn’t want to move away. “It’s not. I’ve wanted this since I first met you.”
“What is stopping you?” he asked as he brushed his thumb against her cheekbone. His touch was as light as a feather. “Is there someone back home?”