Page 24
“Over there.” I point across the kitchen. “But the only thing you’ll find in there is popcorn and my secret candy stash.”
The beer bottle scrapes across the counter as he picks it back up. “Guess I’ll have to bring over ingredients next time and wow you with my prowess in the kitchen.”
“Prowess, huh?” I mutter, laughing and he nods.
“Don’t pretend like it doesn’t turn you on,” he teases. My heart stutters in my chest as I’m torn in half by indecision. Drawing air into my lungs, I square my shoulders and meet his gaze. Someone needs to get control of this situation before things spiral out of control and I wind up hurt.
“If we’re going to do this, I have rules,” I blurt out, but he takes it in stride, nodding as he takes a sip of beer.
“Okay. Let’s hear ‘em.”
“First off, this thing between us is casual. It will never be anything more than just sex and this can’t go any further if that’s a problem for you.”
His jaw ticks and he nods. “Anything else?”
“I don’t care if you’re sleeping with anyone else, but I absolutely will not be your side piece so if you’ve got a wife or a girlfriend, you need to leave now.”
He sets his beer down on the counter and slowly stalks over, the sound of his boots on the floor amplifying my heart rate. Standing in front of my stool, he spins it so I’m facing him as the air is yanked from my lungs. “Is that all?” he whispers.
“Yes.” My voice is rough and a little needy, something he picks up on immediately as his eyes flash with triumph as he brushes his thumb over my cheek.
“Okay, then I have a rule of my own.”
Oh, shit.
No one has ever flipped the script on me like this or ever challenged me like he does. In this moment, I should back away from him instead of leaning into his touch and it drives me crazy.
“What is it?”
He smiles. “If we’re sleeping together, you don’t sleep with anyone else.”
Shaking my head, I pull back. “That sounds an awful lot like a relationship.”
His only response is to pull me up off of my stool and press my back against the island as he claims my lips in a kiss that will forever be seared in my mind. One arm wraps around the small of my back as the hand on my cheek dives into my hair, controlling the kiss and intensifying my need. A moan slips out of my mouth as he flicks his tongue against the seam of my lips, demanding access. I have no power, giving him everything he wants without even a hint of a fight.
When he finally pulls away, I’m gasping for air and he presses a couple more quick kisses against my lips. “Say yes,” he whispers and goose bumps race along my flesh.
“No.”
He presses his hips against mine, letting me feel the bulge in his jeans and I moan, fighting back the “yes” that desperately wants to spill from my lips.
“Don’t you want me, Princess?” he teases in my ear and I’m too turned on to even give a damn that he called me princess again. Gripping his shirt in my fists, I roll my hips against him and he groans. He leans in and kisses my neck before whispering, “Give me what I want.”
I shudder, as he drags his tongue up the side of my neck, and nod. “Okay.”
He steps back, a wide grin on his face as he adjusts himself and I grip the counter behind me, my head dizzy with desire. Damn him! I had no intention of giving into his rule but then he gives me the best damn kiss of my life and I was weak.
“Anything else?” I spit, annoyed but my anger lacks passion, like maybe I always wanted to give into him.
He smirks. “No.”
“Then, I think it’s time for you to leave.”
His smile falls and I resist the urge to giggle, pleased I got the upper hand again. “What?” he asks.
“I’ve had a long, shitty day and I can’t do this right now, so I need you to leave.”
Today’s date flashes in my head again and I turn away from him, taking a deep breath. This was a terrible idea. I should have shut the door in his face when he showed up here. It’s hard enough to resist the things he makes me feel on my best day and it’s clearly impossible now.
