All the while, she watched him. Blood sizzled in her body as if her veins were gas-soaked ropes lit by a torch.

Punching some numbers into his cell phone, he called in the license plate while he yanked out a pad and pencil from the desk and briskly jotted down something. He hung up fast, then frowned in concentration as he made more notes, his lips compressed; an avenging angel seething with protective instincts and testosterone. “We have to get out of here. Nordstrom will—”

“Zach?”

He glanced up at her, incensed and agitated.

Paige couldn’t help it. She flung herself at him and—oh, God. She set her lips on his. Recklessly kissing the warm flesh, spreading one hand across his locked, strong jaw.

He made a tormented sound from somewhere deep in his chest. The pad and pen crashed against the floor. He cupped her cheeks with two hands, tilted her head, and seized her lips like a man possessed, thrusting his tongue so deep and hard into her mouth she felt the sizzling, satiny lick down … there.

She cried out, and he growled, greedily suckling her tongue, suddenly unleashed.

“Jesus.” He fisted handfuls of her hair, drawing her closer to his tasting mouth, cocking his head. “Jesus, Paige, Jesus.”

Butterflies exploded in her stomach. She made an odd little sound of pleasure as he started plunging in and out, in and out, tasting, tasting more.

Driven by an urgency and thirst she hadn’t known, she looped her arms around his neck and melded to him. His tongue was strong, moist, and powerful as he twirled it around hers. She sipped from him with embarrassing vigor, as if trying to suck his essence into her body, so much so that she drew back all of a sudden, startled by her hunger.

Zach growled and backed her up, pinned her against the door with his weight, and ruthlessly dove for her lips once more. “Give me your mouth, Paige.”

Gasping, Paige grabbed handfuls of his hair and let him have it.

An odd gurgling sound rose up in her throat as their thirsty tongues explored. His hands clamped on her waist, holding her still as he intensified the kiss until she thought she’d drown. He searched so far inside her she was certain he was out for her heart.

The biting bulge of his erection scraped against her stomach. Her breasts throbbed where they pressed against his chest. And she thought she would seize this moment, because she was crazy, because she wanted him like she’d never wanted anything in her life. Her pelvis began to move, craving more of him, all of this man, this hunk, this protector.

She bit at his lip and he bit harder, devouring her damp lower lip, whispering, “Sweet, thirsty baby.”

His endearment spilled through her in a lust wave. She whimpered softly when he eased back a fraction, leaving her empty, in agony, in pain.

When he spoke again, running unsteady fingers down her cheek, his breath blew over her face, misty and warm and fragrant. “You want me.”