Page 30 of Whispers of My Skin

?

Joel thinks this is funny?

Seriously?

He doesn’t stop laughing, even when he sees it’s totally pissing me the hell off. That just makes me even more furious, and I have a strong desire to knee him in the nuts—hard. That’d wipe the stupid smile right off his face.

Fuck Joel. Fuck him for humiliating me, for turning me into some kind of a crazy woman I barely recognize. I launch myself at him, kicking and screaming in frustration as I unravel into a howling banshee.

I attack him with all my strength yet the brute doesn’t even flinch.

It’s pathetic—no, I’m pathetic. He makes me feel like a sad loser, when I’m trying so hard to be the exact opposite. How dare he treat me with such a lack of respect. Idon’t deserve this and I refuse to be demeaned by him. He’s the one in the wrong, disrespecting me, playing me for a fool, so I’m hugely satisfied when I finally manage to land a nice, loud, satisfying slap to his face. Not so funny now is it, Mr. Joel Sadger?

“I warned you before about raising your hand to me,” he growls grabbing hold of my wrist in a vise like grip. At least he’s no longer laughing at me, but the second there’s a whisper of skin to skin contact, the passion simmering between us flares up again.

Before any kind of retort can escape from my lips, his mouth crushes mine in a crude assault.

I’m immediately torn.

The sensible, logical part of me knows I should be doing everything possible to repel him.

And yet I yield to him in a heartbeat.

I could argue that I have no choice, that this huge behemoth of a man is forcing me, but that would be a lie.

I want this.

I want him.

Every touch between us is electric.

So. Fucking. Good.

His ferocious kiss deepens into something even more stark, more primitive.

He wants this.

He wants me.

Joel buries his hands in my hair, gripping me, maneuvering me to deepen the kiss. My hands have a mind of their own, as they explore the powerful muscles flexing under his shirt…

Wait, wait, wait… hold on here…

What the hell am I doing? Thirty seconds ago I was fighting with him, now I’m submitting to him?

Oh shit! He’s so good at this, at manipulating and dominating me. I have to put a stop to this right now, before I hand over every last shred of my self-respect to him along with my traitorous body.

“No! Let go of me, Joel.”

He pauses and pulls away from me just a tad, and while we both stand there panting, I try to clear my head enough to work out his true agenda.

Undeniably, he’s as physically attracted to me as I am to him. That’s how it’s always been between us, but is Joel taking advantage since he’s very aware of my weakness for him? Employing that physical spark between us to distract me and deflect awkward questions?

Joel sucks in a breath, his nostrils flaring as he breathes heavily. He’s certainly putting on a good act, I’ll give him that, and I’m almost convinced.

Until I think of him and Cassandra.

No, I can’t let this go any further. I have to put a stop to things right now.

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