Chapter 1 #2
Alyssia knew she was being a brat, yet she couldn’t make herself stop.
Tate was a convenient target, and she was asking more of him than was acceptable between friends.
She needed to apologize. The problem was, now that she’d nudged the edges of this boundary—this temptation that was him—she didn’t want to stop.
There was a reason she never pushed this line with him.
What had gotten into her? Part of her brain whispered what a bad idea this was.
That she needed to suck her up pride and just walk away, but the rest of her wasn’t interested in backing down.
Her ego was already limping. It wasn’t just him denying her now, or even that he had so long ago.
It was all of it. It had been ages since she’d run into a guy who seemed to care there was a person inside her.
Except Tate, and he treated her differently because of her brother.
Tonight it all merged in her skull and was too much.
So yeah, she was being pushy, and insecure, and bratty.
And she was terrified if she stopped now—even if she backtracked and took a kinder route—she’d never find out what she needed to know.
Was she only ever destined to attract, and be attracted to, the wrong guys?
Her toes slid higher on his thigh, and she paused when the landscape changed and she brushed his erection. He inhaled sharply through clenched teeth. Had she really made him hard just with a line of questions? The thought both terrified and excited her.
“The right guy is out there.” His words were strained. Any of the humor that usually lined his voice was gone. “And you’ll meet him, and you’ll know when you do that he’s different.”
Of course. Just like eight years ago. Except this time, she was licking too many wounds to want to stop.
His rejection back then, this bullshit online.
It all jumbled into a mess, reminding her how much she normally held back around Tate, and that she’d never gotten over him.
She draped her arms around his neck. “What if the right guy is you?”
Faster than she could blink, he grabbed her wrists, stood, and pinned her palms to the desk.
He pushed her upright and slid between her legs at the same time, standing close enough heat radiated between them.
Her pulse kicked into overdrive, and want slid through her.
The intensity in his gaze made her mind stall.
He scraped his teeth up her neck, and she bit her tongue to hold back her whimper.
Her pulse screamed for more, bringing every nerve ending to life.
His warm breath on her skin was tantalizing and tempting, and she needed him to take this further.
To feel his tongue explore her, his hands strip her bare. Every inch of his flesh against hers.
His whisper brushed her ear. “I promise I’m not.”
“So everything you’re saying is just lip service.
” Irritation tinged her desire, making it surge.
He was so sure he knew what was best for her, and she was sick of that.
She scooted closer, rubbing his erection each time she shifted her weight.
He was definitely interested. What would it take to shatter his defenses?
“If we ever hooked up, it would be because you actually wanted me, not because you were hurt and wanted someone to take your frustrations out on.”
That pushed another button of defiance. Heat—fury, desire, all of it mingled and seared her veins. She didn’t know what to focus on, so she let it all course through her. “I do want you, and you know it.”
He ducked his head closer without warning, still holding her hands captive, and crushed his mouth against hers.
His groan mingled with hers when she ground against him.
His tongue forced its way into her mouth.
His insistent shaft pressed between her legs, making her go from damp to wet in an instant, and her nipples strained against her bra.
So this was what it was like to feel sparks.
He broke away as quickly as he’d dived in, breaking all contact as he stepped back. Disappointment and longing surged inside her. His steady gaze locked on her face. “You deserve better than what I’m offering, even for just a night. Trust me.”
“Goddammit, Tate.” Her throat ached from just the few words.
She hopped to her feet, bringing her closer to him again.
She grasped at every strand of anger inside and used it to smother the overwhelming hurt making her joints ache.
“I’m so tired of you telling me what I do and don’t need.
Do you maybe think I might know that better than you? ”
She raised her hands to his shoulders to push him back, and he grabbed her wrists again, still looking her in the eye. Despite her irritation, his rough touch still spoke to the primal lust raging inside her.
“You might need to get off, but not with me. And I get as much say in the matter as you do. I can’t stop you from keeping the fantasy, though.”
Her face heated to red-hot. She broke free of his grasp and shoved him back. “You impossibly arrogant ass.”
He opened his mouth, but a loud beep cut him off. Her heart beat against her ribcage in frustration and surprise. The tone of the speakerphone cut through the room, followed by her assistant, Sara’s panicked voice. “Doctor, we need you out here.”
Without thought, her fury and indignation were bundled up, shoved into a box in the back of her skull, and locked away tight, even killing her desire to tell Tate the conversation wasn’t over. “On my way, what’s up?”
“Mutt. Broken leg, fractured ribs, probably internal bleeding.”
Alyssia’s gut clenched. The stupid argument could wait. Her patient was more important. She pushed past Tate and out the door without stopping to see what he was up to. She’d care later, this was emergency time.