Page 76 of Succumbed

“Ah.” She smiles as my voice trails off. “Regretting the attitude?”

“What attitude?” I tease, my lips twitching.

Her laugh is so quick and airy, I could get high on it. “Right, of course. You’ve reached your self-awareness quota for the day, I take it.”

“Pardon me, but I’m very self-aware. Not sure what you’re implying.”

Those seafoam eyes sparkle as she taps her chin and moves toward me. “You know, you might be charming. If you weren’t so completely insufferable.”

I step closer, drawn to her like a moth to a flame and meet her in the middle of the room. “Do you always insult your clients?”

“Only the ones who deserve it.” She’s inches away, the curve of her neck enticing as she looks up at me.

The air thickens between us, and I fight to draw my eyes from her mouth. I’m a compass, and she’s true north. I’d never admit it, but I can feel her presence in any room, know when she’s close or too goddamn far. It’s a constant battle to keep my distance, keep it professional, respect her boundaries…and I’m fucking tired of fighting.

“Do I deserve it?” I rasp, drowning in her citrus and floral scent.

Her smirk softens as her pupils dilate, her gaze dropping to my lips. I’m grateful, because it means I can look my fill without her realizing my gaze is anything but platonic.

“You deserve everything, Declan,” she murmurs.

Maybe it’s her earnestness or the way we’re both leaning toward each other like our bodies are magnets. Maybe it’s the high of the interview and the adrenaline still rushing through me. Maybe it’s fucking Mercury in retrograde. I don’t know what to blame, but I lose all sense in the moment.

“I’ll never deserve you,” I growl, reaching up to cup her cheek and thread my fingers into her short hair. “But, fucking hell, do I want to.”

Ignoring the alarm bells ringing in my ears and hammering in my chest, I tighten my grip on her and pull us together, capturing her mouth in mine. She whimpers in surprise, stiff for a split second, then melts against me as she opens up and gives herself over. My head swims at how readily she succumbs, how pliant this fierce, fiery woman becomes at my touch. Holy fuck, I want so much more.

The thought is like a bucket of ice water. I have no business wanting more from her, not after everything I’ve put her through, everything she’s done for us. Us. Shit, what the hell am I doing?! I tear myself away and step back, chest heaving. Lex blinks at me in confusion, her fingers flying to her lips.

“Fuck, Lex, I’m sorry.” I run my hand through my hair, turning toward the windows. “Shit. I had no right.”

“Declan…” her voice has never been small or tentative, and it kills me that I’m the reason she sounds like both now.

I may not have heard them directly from the source, but I’m aware of her rules. Kissing her in a glass-walled conference room in her place of business is a clear violation. And doing it without a conversation about what we both want violates mine.

“I’m a fucking idiot,” I snarl, body tight as I glare out the window.

She steps closer, and I can feel her energy calling to mine even with my back turned.

“You are not,” she admonishes, voice still softer than it should be.

“I am.” I turn to face her. “That was a fucking mistake.”

She freezes, leaning away as her cheeks darken. “Excuse me?”

Her eyes are hard, glinting as she stares at me, and I hate that all I want to do is grip her hair, yank her head back, and consume her completely. Now that I’ve tasted her, I can’t think of anything else. My fingers twitch against my thigh, and she tracks the movement. Her gaze narrows.

“I have to go,” I bite out, moving to brush past her and escape the room before I do something even more idiotic. Like lock us both in and ravish her against the door.

“Sure, of course,” she says, her caustic tone stopping me in my tracks. “Go on, Declan. Run away.”

My spine stiffens. She’s behind me, but I feel her energy shift. The temperature in the room drops, but I don’t turn.

“It’s a fucking shame.” Her voice could cut glass, it’s so sharp.

“What is?” I don’t know why I’m entertaining this when I know it won’t go well. Maybe I’m desperate enough for a part of her that I’ll settle for her rage over nothing.

“That you’re a coward.”

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