“No.” Her eyes slipped shut. “Don’t. I’ve been thinking about you, too.” Annika didn’t think she could stand anymore; her legs were now incapable of supporting her. She wanted him to lift her up, to set her against the wall, to have his way with her.

“I think it’s down this way.”

They flew apart as soon as they heard the voices trailing down the previously empty train car. Hudson’s eyes were wild, feral, his pupils dilated with desire. His cheeks were flushed, and Annika knew she looked just as unkempt as he did. Patting down her hair, she turned to look out at the view, Hudson holding himself awkwardly, thanks to certain parts of his body that still hadn’t calmed down. Their hands lay next to each other on the railing, and he gently edged his pinky onto hers. She smiled at him just as an older middle-aged couple rounded the corner.

“Oh!” A man wearing a plaid newsboy cap said. “I didn’t realize there was someone else up here!” His wife smiled at them.

“It’s okay,” Annika said, with a questioning glance at Hudson. “I think we were done here?”

He nodded. “Yeah, we’re done.” Then, looking right at her, he said in a voice that was half-growl, half-command, “For now.”

Annika swallowed and managed a smile as they brushed past the older couple and made their way back down the train car. Other people were finishing up their third course and moving on to their third. Their magic moment was over … for now.

How long could foreplay last? Annika didn’t think she could Google it without Hudson seeing, but she was really curious. As the train neared the station, she got up twice and checked her makeup in the bathroom, reapplied a little perfume, and teased her hair at the roots so it had more volume. She didn’t know if he noticed these things, but she noticed them. If she wanted to tap into her inner femme fatale, she needed to harness everything in her tool kit.

For his part, Hudson seemed to be trying to drive her crazy while maintaining an unbelievably cool composure himself. Once, his foot found hers under the table, and he drew his leg up against hers, the denim of his pants rough, so inviting against the smooth silk of her skin. Her breath caught in her throat as she looked across the table at him, but he glanced at her and then away, even as his leg continued to brush up against hers.

Another time, he reached across and fed her a grape, succulent and sweet, his fingers lingering in her mouth just a fraction too long, her tongue reaching out to dart across his skin—only to have him pull his hand back, leaving her panting, leaving her wanting.