Page 20 of The Plus One

My jaw tightened. This woman was playing with fire. “Kema.”

“What?”

“You need to stop.”

“Why?”

“Because you know why.”

“I don’t.”

“Yes, the fuck you do.”

She stood, and I watched her walk around the island. “Kema.”

She stopped in front of me. “What?”

“You’ve been drinking.”

“I’ve also had food, water, and enough time to know exactly what I’m doing.”

I stood to put even less space between us. She had to tilt her head back to look at me. “Still don’t make this a good idea.”

“I didn’t ask if it was a good idea.”

My eyes dropped to her lips, then immediately came back to hers. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“Start something you’re gonna regret tomorrow.”

Her expression softened. “Who said I would?”

“I’m saying it.”

“You regret wanting me?”

“No.” My answer came too fast. But it was honest. And Kema noticed. Her hand came up and rested against my chest. I caught her wrist. Not hard. Just enough to stop her. “Kema.”

“What?”

“Don’t.”

Instead of pulling away, she stepped closer. Then kissed me. For one second, I forgot every damn reason I wasn’t supposed to kiss her back. My hand went to her waist. Her fingers curled into my shirt.

I’d thought about this before. More times than I’d ever admit. I thought about what her lips would feel like. What she’d taste like. What she’d feel like pressed against me instead of standing across a room beside somebody else. Now I knew. And that was exactly why I forced myself to pull away. “Kema.”

Her breathing was heavy and so was mine. I kept my hand on her waist but put enough space between us to look at her. “We not doing this because you had a few drinks and you’re horny all of a sudden.”

Her eyebrows pulled together. “I’m sober.”

“You’ve been drinking.”

“And I’ve been sitting here talking to you for damn near an hour.”

“That don’t mean—”

“I know where I am and what I’m about to do.” I went quiet. She stepped closer again. “This isn’t an accident, Ace. I won’t regret it tomorrow.”