He opened his mouth. She dived into the kiss eagerly. Tongues tangled and thrust. God, she smelled good. Nothing flowery, something clean and fresh with a hint of citrus.
Her hands slid down his arms, coming to rest over his wrists, and she tugged. She moved against him, her hips grinding against him and making him growl.
He fought his body’s urges. He wanted to strip her clothes off and get inside her as fast as he could. Feel her body hot and tight around him.
“Ria—” his voice was a rasp “—you’re playing with more than fire here. I’m not known for being a gentleman.”
“No, you’re known for going fast.” She rocked her hips. “I like fast.”
Wild abandon felt good.Outrageously good.
Ria rocked her hips again and enjoyed the feel of male hardness beneath her.
All her life she lived by the strict rules and protocol of the Guild. Now she wanted to take the things she wanted. Everything. For no other reason than that it felt good.
And one of those things was Zayn Phoenix.
Her gaze hit his heavy-lidded eyes. Color lit his face and his muscles were tight. Desire, hard and hot, was there for her to see.
“Touch me, Zayn.Please.”
With a groan, his hands slid up to cup her shoulders, then traveled down. Warm hands shaped her breasts, and she thrust into his touch. He leaned forward and took her mouth in a rough kiss that sent a shot of sensation to the damp place between her legs.
“More,” she urged.
“No.” A whisper against her lips. “I’m trying to do the right thing here.” Once again, he gripped the armrests. “Exactly why, I’m not sure, but I am.”
She snagged his mouth again, taking in all the flavors of him. Enjoying the way he kissed her back, not a dance or a seduction, just a hard, fast race of sensation.
Ria let her hands slide between their straining bodies. Her hand cupped the large bulge beneath his cargo pants. He thrust into her palm, but at the same time his entire body stiffened.
“You’ll regret this later.” He swallowed. “I don’t want you to hate me.”
She stroked the hard cock beneath the fabric. Desperate to see it. Taste it. Feel it. “I won’t.”
He let go of the armrests, and for a second, she thought he’d stopped fighting. Then one of his big hands grabbed hers, while the other tipped her chin up. He rubbed a thumb down her ridges, making her shiver. “I see more than an easy lay when I look at you. I don’t want to hurt you.”
Ria stared at him. A strange warmth washed through her, followed by an intense cold that left goose bumps across her skin. She blinked. Reality was like a bitter wind washing over her. The heat that had driven her the last fifteen minutes dissipated.
She glanced over her shoulder and saw that the space ahead of them was dotted with stars once again.
Oh, God. She wanted to scramble off him, but she was tougher than that. She took responsibility for her actions…always.
She lowered her forehead to his, dragging in some deep breaths.
“You back with me?” he asked quietly.
“Yes.” Another deep breath. “Zayn, I’m sorry?—”
“Don’t apologize.” His hand brushed her hair back from her face.
She’d thrown herself at him. Thank the cosmos he’d retained the slightest thread of control. “Thank you for not…taking advantage.”
“Look, you don’t have to say anything?—”
She straightened. “Lucky for both of us you want someone else when you look at me.”
“Hey.” His voice held an edge now. He gripped her arms. “Don’t for a second think this was easy for me.” He blew out a breath. “I was tempted, Ria. You stir something in me.”
