“So what if she was?”
Is he messing with me on purpose? He has to know what I’m getting at.
All the looks he’s been giving me. The stolen glances. The heavy breathing I hear through his door at night when he thinks I’m asleep.
“You want me, Jake,” I finally say. I don’t know how I get the words out, but I do.
His jaw drops, and his eyes narrow. He stares right into my eyes like he’s searching my soul for intent.
For a second, I’m sure he’s going to turn his back on me or storm out the front door with his new client.
But he doesn’t move. He just stands there in all his glory, towering over me like I’m miniature sized.
“Piper…” he says softly.
“Iknowyou do, Jake. I’m not blind. You can’t hide it anymore.”
Before I can react, he has his hand around my arm. He pulls me close, and I’m sure he’s going to kiss me.
I close my eyes and part my lips.Yes, finally it’s going to happen.
But the kiss doesn’t come.
I open my eyes and find myself staring into his. They’re blazing with energy—maybe even anger. And I feel myself starting to melt inside.
His dominance is so sexy. His rough hand holds me strong. He could do whatever he wants with me, and I wouldn’t be able to resist.
Not like I’d want to anyway…
“No.” He shakes his head. “I can’t, Piper.”
“Jake, please—”
“No!” he shouts, causing me to jump. He sighs heavily and shakes his head. “You’re right. I do want you, Piper. I want every fucking gorgeous inch of you.”
My heart leaps. Golden energy fills me. My thighs begin to tingle.
“Jake…”
“But we can’t.Ican’t,” he says, lowering his eyes. “You know why?”
“Because I’m your step-sister?” I ask. He nods heavily. “Is that reallythatbad, though? We’re not really related…”
Again, he shakes his head like he’s carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. “My dad…it would destroy our family.”
I reach up, cupping his strong jaw with my hand. His scruff tickles my palm.
“He doesn’t have to find out.”
Wow, Jake’s really bringing out the bad girl in me. I never behave like this—never would have even thought about it until him.
He reaches out, gently caressing my belly with the back of his knuckles. His fingertips move down toward the waistband of mypanties, and for a moment, I’m absolutely sure he’s going to take me.
But then, before I can blink, he’s backed off. At least six feet of distance between us.
“No,” he says, pulling his keys from his pocket. “Absolutely not. I can’t.”
“Why!?” I plead, tears pooling in my eyes. This is beyond simple lust at this point. There’s much more I want from him. Much more Ineed.
