Page 34 of Wicked Temptations

He drew in his breath like he was trying to gather up his control and turned to face her.

“Last time, we didn’t know what we were doing. Both of us have been through the wringer today, but especially you.”

Before she could prevent it, Tamilya felt her spine stiffen. She hated the way he said that like she wasn’t able to handle the situation. Embarrassment pushed and prodded her temper.

“Just say you don’t want me, Marcus. I can handle it.”

She tried to step by him, but his arm snaked out, slipping around her waist and pulling her against him.

“Oof,” she said, then rolled her eyes.

“You are insane if you think I don’t want you.”

His voice didn’t sound as smooth as before. It was rough around the edges and sent a shiver of heat against her nerve endings. Jesus, just one sentence had her ready to jump his bones.

“It’s hard to know what you want. I’ve never known.”

She said it to his chest. She wasn’t the kind of woman who would be embarrassed to say she wanted a man. But she was now. It had always been this way with Marcus.

“Look at me.”

He demanded it now, instead of forcing her to do it. Which was more powerful? The demand? Maybe, because it showed her compliance.

“Tamilya…”

His tone was harder, even as his voice danced over the syllables.

She gritted her teeth and forced her gaze to his face. His nostrils flared, his heavy-lidded eyes seemed to darken just a bit.

“You think I don’t want you?” he growled.

“What should I think? Last time we were involved, we fell into bed all the time, without a thought.”

“Maybe that was the problem.”

“What do you mean?” she asked, but he was already shaking his head.

“If you want to have a discussion about a relationship—beyond our work—I don’t want to have it when we are both so damned tired that we can barely stand up.”

“Speak for yourself,” she said with a sniff. “I know an excuse when I hear one.” She tried to wiggle away, but Marcus held onto her.

“It might be an excuse, but it’s a good one.”

She snorted and looked away. This time he slipped his hand back up to cup her face, urging her to look at him again. Before she realized what he was doing, he lowered his head to brush his mouth over hers. Once…twice…then he moved away.

“I want you, Tamilya, but we need to figure out where we’re going.”

“Why?”

“Because last time we burned ourselves out.”

“You panicked when I said I love you.”

He nodded. “We barely knew each other, and you were declaring your love for me. It freaked me out.”

“And now you want to take it slow?”

“I didn’t say that. I just said that we need to make sure this time we are both on the same page. Also, we’re tired and on edge. This assignment was crap before all the Virginia Star issues. Now it’s beyond complicated, especially for you.”

---