Page 79 of Tortured Tones

“We were having a good time.” He caught my hand, held it against his chest, and pressed his forehead against mine. “Weren’t we?”

“That’s the problem. This is a problem.”

“Tell me about it. You infuriate me. Frustrate me. Order me around. I have tried to ignore you, hate you, but you just keep pulling me in. You drive me fucking crazy.”

I slumped against the open door. I’d had too much to drink. Too much heat drew me to him. My voice came out in a pained whisper. “I hate you so much right now.”

“Why?” He brushed the edge of his finger down my cheek, then swiped the tip across my chin.

“Because no matter how much I try to keep my distance...I can’t.”

“I hate you too.” His lips hovered an inch from mine. “You scare me. I haven’t felt anything for anyone in a long time. Every logical, sane reason says I should walk away, but I don’t want to. I haven’t wanted anyone as much as I want you right now.”

I flattened my hand against his chest, stopping him from getting any closer. His heart beat as fast as mine. Crap. “You’re with women all the time. You can have anyone. Why me?”

“Because you don’t want anything in return . . . and . . . I like you.”

My breath shuddered through my lungs. I didn’t want to use him like one of his casual girls, or brag about him to my friends. I just couldn’t turn off my attraction toward him. “I like you too, but this is wrong. I don’t want things to get complicated.”

“Too late for that. You should’ve picked the boring black dress at Gabrielle’s yesterday, because in this one”—his hot gaze snaked over my outfit as he ran his hand down my arm—“I’ve struggled to keep my hands off you all night. I’ve been in agony every time I’ve been near you.”

He’d noticed the dresses? “You’re in agony? Do you know how good you look in that suit? Do you think tonight was easy for me?”

He brushed the tip of his nose along the edge of mine and smiled. “Then take it off me.”

I swayed on my feet. Too smooth, Cole. “You’ve got all the lines and the moves, haven’t you?”

“No games, Ava.” Fire burned in the depths of his gaze. “I haven’t been able to take my eyes off you all night.”

Butterflies flipped in my stomach...or was it too much vodka? Maybe both. “I hate that I liked you looking at me.”

A small smile played across his lips. “I hate how much I want tokiss you.”

Oh, fuck. The heavy door tried to swing shut. Shit. I pushed back against it, slamming it against the wall. He chuckled, sending a wave of heat over my body in a hot rush. I drew my shoulders back, held his gaze...and whispered, “Where?”

“Here.” He kissed the center of my forehead.

I closed my eyes. My heart stampeded against my ribs. What has happened to my willpower? ‘Stop’ formed in my mind, but something entirely different fell from my mouth. “Anywhere else?”

“Here.” He pressed his lips against my cheek, buckling my knees.

“And?”

“Definitely here.” He scooped my hair back off my shoulder and kissed the soft skin beneath my earlobe.

“That all?” I pressed my thighs together. Oh God, I’m in trouble.

Smoldering heat darkened his eyes. “I have a few other places in mind.”

My whole body lit with fire. “I hate you.”

“Hate me tomorrow.” The want in his voice matched the burn blazing in my core.

“This is a bad idea. I can’t risk losing my job.”

“You won’t lose your job. I promise.”

“Cole . . .” I’d lost my freaking mind.

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