Page 32 of Without Regret

I gritted my teeth. “I don’t know.”

He leaned against my door jamb, amusement in his eyes. “We’ll go with Operation Make Trevor Jealous, then.”

My temper riled. “I did not leave with him to make you jealous.”

“Shh,” he cautioned since my words had been loud. He came in, shutting the door. “Why did you leave with him, then?”

“None of your bloody business.”

“Why are you back so soon? Don’t tell me you blew him in the back of the cab, and he sent you packing?”

I physically winced. On another night, it wouldn’t have been unlike me to have done something exactly like that. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what? Try to guess what you’re doing here so soon? Try not to read into it?”

“I didn’t want you to read anything into tonight except we can’t possibly happen.” I punctuated each word.

He quirked a brow, and I realized I’d revealed too much. He stepped closer, reaching out to take a piece of my hair and slowly wrap it around his finger. His voice went down to a whisper. “Do you know what I think?”

I was absolutely rooted to the spot, halfway wanting him to guess the truth and the other half petrified. I finally shook my head.

“I think you went into tonight with the intention of going home with that guy or any other one fitting that type. I believe you changed your mind and came back here instead because you couldn’t stop thinking about me. But you’re scared.”

Auto-defense kicked in. “I’m not scared.”

“Then prove it. Let me kiss you, and if there is nothing there, no spark, we walk away. But if there is, then be brave enough to admit you’re feeling this connection between us, too.”

“Fine—” I hadn’t even finished the words before his lips descended. Hands firmly held my face while his tongue slid between my lips. Tasting, testing, and completely obliterating my senses, he took possession. It took only a moment before pent-up desire unleashed, and I returned the kiss fully, meeting his tongue and angling my head to allow him better access.

He finally pulled away from my face, putting his lips to my ear. “Jesus, Em. Tell me. Tell me you want this as much as I do.”

His hand was reaching under my skirt, his fingers inching their way towards where I wanted him most. But instead of diving in, his finger infuriatingly ghosted down the front of my panties. “I need the words, Emma. Because if we’re doing this, we’re doing it without regret.”

Because I could no longer deny him, consequences be damned, I finally replied. “Yes. Please don’t stop.”

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