“Okay?”
She nods.
Anything to get you out of my head, Wallace.
The air seems to thicken when I inch closer. I run my hand up her arm, and goosebumps break out across her skin. Her hand finds my waist, and she grips my shirt—to push me away at a moment’s notice, perhaps.
I press my lips to hers softly. Once, then I withdraw. Her huge eyes fill my vision. Ah, fuck. She leans forward, and suddenly, we’re kissing again. Her fingers graze my ribs, my shirt fully in her grasp. Our mouths naturally part, and my tongue slides along hers.
This is infinitely better than the first.
I taste her, but she fights back. Someone, somewhere, taught her how tokiss. The thought makes me irrationally angry, and my teeth score her bottom lip.
She moans.
My dick wakes up. Her palms are flat against my bare chest, but all it does is send lightning bolts through me. I shift, rising up onto my elbows. I hover over her, pushing her flat on her back.
I tear my lips from hers and drag my mouth down her jaw to her neck. Her scent fills my nose, and I nip and kiss my way down to where I bit her earlier. With any luck, it’ll be recognizable for what it is in the light of day.
She pulls at my waist, but I freeze.
It takes all my fucking willpower not to grind my dick on her leg–or worse, between them. She’s mystepsister. I’m going to have to look at her across the dining table at family functions for the rest of my life. She’s never going to disappear, not like the girls I date and then dump when I grow bored of them.
It’s like ice water crashing over my head, and I practically throw myself off her. I’m on my feet and moving out of the room before my brain can catch up. My heart hammers. I flick the light on in my room and dig out sweatpants, socks, sneakers. My sweatshirt is slung over the back of my chair, and I’ve got a hat somewhere.
Scarlett is a temptation I can’t afford.
Both literally and mentally.
She’s standing in the doorway of her room when I reemerge dressed for a run. I spare her a glance, getting an eyeful of her mussed hair and swollen lips.
“Fuck,” I growl.
I pivot and beeline for her. I catch the back of her neck and lean down. This kiss is rough. She bites my lip, and the metallic taste of blood blooms across my tongue. Ilikeit. I want more of it. I want her teeth on me–and that’s precisely the problem.
Tonight’s memories will have to be enough.
I pull away, taking in her half-lidded eyes and rather pleased expression, and I sear that into my memory too.
Because I have a feeling from here on out, it’ll be only scowls.
[ 20 ]
SCARLETT
I didn’t sleep a wink.
Every time I think about last night, my body grows warm, and my heart beats harder.
After Cross left, I lay awake in bed for hours. It was nearly three in the morning when I heard him stomping up the stairs again. I pretended to be asleep because I wasn’t sure what else to do, but I felt his presence in the doorway.
He stood there for so long I finally peeked one eye open, only to see his backside disappear down the hall to his own room.
Now, here I am, in our kitchen, pouring myself a cup of coffee with a shaky hand.
What were we thinking?
Better yet…why can’t I stop?
