Page 105 of The First Spark

I tap my finger against my mouth, fearing I might melt from the intensity of the moment. “Let me get this straight. You like me, but you don’twantto like me. You want to ignore me, but you can’t. I’m fucking with all upcoming plans with other women. Am I close here?”

Finally, those green eyes meet mine, but instead of the usual flirtatious intensity, there’s a softness lingering there. “Right on the money.”

I can’t believe he admitted it.

“Interesting.” I bite my lip, gazing up at him through my lashes. “Here’s my take on your predicament. I want you to like me, and I’m not sorry in the slightest that you do. I hope the image of us together is burned into your brain the way it’s burned into mine. As for other women, please don’t make me go to jail for killing them. I don’t look good in stripes.”

His laughter punctuates the air as he frames my face with his hands, pulling me into a fierce kiss. His tongue melds with mine in a slow, coaxing rhythm and a low groan rises from his chest as he presses his body to mine. Just like that first night, I feel the desire coursing through him. Coursing through us both.

The difference? This time, I believe it’s real.

Rising on tiptoe, I grip his shoulders, desperate to feel every inch of him. I want more. Hell, I wanteverything.

“Greedy little minx,” he breathes against my mouth, nibbling my lower lip. “What am I going to do with you, woman?”

With a wink, I wrap my arms around him, snuggling into his embrace. “I can think of a ton of things. I deserve it after a shitty week.”

He pulls back to shoot me a confused look. “What happened?”

“Youhappened, Asher Hammond. After all your women?—”

“They’re not my women,” he grunts.

“I only learned that piece of information five minutes ago. I spent the last week ruminating on it. Trust me, my head wasn’t a good place to be.”

“Time to get you out of your head, so whatever bullshit plans you have tonight, you’re canceling them.”

“Am I?” I ask, giggling when he buries his head against my neck.

“Yep. You’re spending the night with me in our favorite basement. Trust me, I will make this week end on a high note.” He drags his tongue along my skin, delivering a series of gentle nips to my throat.

“Don’t you dare leave another mark.”

“No promises,” he murmurs, his teeth raking against my flesh. “Go ahead. Cancel your plans.”

“Why would I do that?” My voice is low as my fingers trace along the planes of his chest, desperate to rip every stitch of clothing from his body.

Ash meets my gaze with a cocky smile. “Simple. Because you like me—a whole fucking lot.”

Truer words have never been spoken, and it’s an idea that equally terrifies and excites me.

“Is that a fact?” I ask with a roll of my eyes.

“Yes, but I like you even more than that. Okay?”

That settles it. My heart doesn’t stand a chance.

I flash him a coy grin while trailing my nails across his cock, earning a grunt of approval as he bucks against my hand. “You have the key this time?”

He smirks at me. “I had a key the last time, remember?”

I hold out my palm. “Give it here.” When he hands me the key, I tuck it into my bra. “This time, I’m lockingyouin.”

“Woman, I’d go willingly.”

God, I love how that sounds so damn much.

“Let me call Mina.”

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