Page 39 of On the Edge

I shook my head. “And why are you?”

She took another step back, bumping into the sofa in the living room of the suite. “I’m not.”

“Sure.” I walked past her, preparing myself to leave. I couldn’t be in the hotel room with her. I needed to fuck. I needed to use someone, to come down from the high of a fight. Bloody or bruised, it had never mattered. That’s just what I did.

And there was no way I would use Anna, no matter how much I wanted her.

“Adam, wait.” I stopped in front of the door and pressed my palms to it, lowering my forehead.

“What’s going on? Is this about those guys who came to Les’s?”

I couldn’t say anything. I didn’t know what to say. She didn’t need to know the truth. It was too late for the truth.

I’d fought. I’d won. And I’d do it again in two weeks.

And I would like it. No matter how much I shouldn’t.

I was screwed. Eternal damnation beckoned me.

“Please.” Her hand was on my back.

“Why’d you really call?” I didn’t want her to see this side of me. She didn’t need to see the dark, broken me.

“Because . . .”

Her hand slipped from my back as I faced her. I touched her chin, tipping her face up so I could look into her large, green eyes.

“I work for you.” Her lower lip quivered a little—almost unnoticeable, but I noticed it. How could I not? “But, I—”

My restraint snapped, and my mouth came down over hers, stealing her words. Both my hands went to her cheeks, holding her face as I deepened the kiss—and she responded. Her tongue was in my mouth, finding mine.

She moaned against my lips, and I pulled her against me, my back to the wall. I clutched her body, my hands slipping beneath the fabric of her nightshirt. I grabbed hold of her arse, moving my fingers under her silk knickers, burying my fingertips into her flesh.

She tipped her head back, her lips breaking from mine, her eyes shutting as I squeezed her flesh harder. My lips found her neck, and I kissed there, too. I wanted to kiss her everywhere. Her skin was like vanilla. Or maybe honey.

Shit, she was too sweet.

I couldn’t do this.

Stop! My mouth left her neck and my spine straightened. I raised my hands between us as if on guard.

She stumbled back, breathless, her chest heaving as she tried to make sense of what had happened.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her cheeks red, a glow to her skin. She ran her fingers through her hair and chewed on her lip as she turned away from me. Embarrassed.

“Are ya kidding? You don’t owe me any apology. I crossed the line.” I pressed my hand to my chest, even though she couldn’t see me. “I did it. Not you.”

“No, it’s my fault. I’m the one worried about what people will think. Afraid they’ll get the wrong idea. And yet . . .”

“What?” I came around in front of her, needing to see her face.

She lowered her eyes to the floor, protecting herself. “I don’t know. From the moment I met you, there was just something—”

“Between us,” I finished, not meaning to say the words aloud.

“And even if I wasn’t working at your company,” she looked up at me, her eyes a darker shade of green, “I shouldn’t be with anyone. I don’t want anything serious with a guy.” She laughed a little. “Not that you’d want something serious with me, but I—”

I couldn’t help myself. I did it again.

---