Page 186 of Irreversible

His hand closes around my wrist, tugging me back and into the alley beside us. I gasp as he spins me, pressing me against the brick wall, his body shadowing mine.

“What is it you’re running from?” His voice is low, almost taunting, but the question carries earnestness. A challenge.

I swallow, pushing down the flutter of panic creeping up my throat. I’m not afraid of him; I’m afraid ofthis…of what this could become. “This isn’t a conversation I want to have in an alleyway.”

“Good,” he says, unbothered. “Because I’m not interested in conversation.” His gaze dips to my mouth, then returns to my eyes. “You keep saying no, but everything about you screams for something else.”

I shake my head. “You have no idea what I want.”

His thumb traces the line of my jaw, featherlight. “I know what you’re trying to avoid.”

“Don’t flatter yourself.”

He leans in closer, his breath brushing against my ear. “I don’t need to. I already know you don’t walk away from something this easily.”

My heart pounds, frustration fusing with an ache in my chest I don’t want to name. His hand trails down, skimming my arm, and I force myself to stay composed as he finally releases me, stepping back just enough to give me room to move.

“Go on, then,” he murmurs, his eyes still locked on mine. He nods at the entrance to the alley. To freedom. “Run.”

My legs refuse to obey. I stare at him, willing myself to turn, to escape, to run like he told me to…but I can’t. Isaac sparked a fire between us, a blaze too explosive to tame.

I glance away, gritting my teeth.

“Thought so.” He inches closer, blanketing me with warmth and confusion. His hand rises, hovering at my cheek, daring me to pull back.

I don’t. I’m caught—caught between the need to shove him away and the urge to let him burn away the parts of me I’ve tried so hard to keep under control.

“Still pretending you don’t feel it?” he asks, voice thick with satisfaction.

I narrow my eyes, mustering every ounce of defiance. “I’m not pretending anything. Last night was clearly a mistake.”

“A mistake. Right.” The heat of his hand settles on my waist, grounding me, rooting me to the spot. His thumb traces a slow,agonizing circle against my side, sending shivers along my skin. “Have you spent the day convincing yourself you didn’t want it?” His eyes narrow as he evaluates me, the corner of his mouth rising with smug conviction. “We both know that’s a lie.”

“I wanted someone who doesn’t exist,” I say, my eyelids fluttering. “I can’t do this with you. With this…versionof you.”

“I’m the only one you can do this with.” His hand trails up my body, grazing the side of my breast, before his grip turns forceful, possessive, and he brackets my throat, tipping my head back against the brick. “How many men have you been with lately? Tell me.”

A whimper falls out as he squeezes my neck. I want to lie to him, but only the truth spills free. “Just you.”

A low hum rumbles in his throat as he leans in, skimming his nose up my jaw. “Fuck. Can’t stop thinking about the way you rode my cock last night. How much you needed it.”

Oh, my God.

I swallow hard, feeling the pull deepen. Tilting my head to find his lips, I inhale a flimsy breath as our mouths gently graze.

But I can’t let him win so easily. A tiny grin crests as our eyes meet through the shadows. “Jasper’s taking me to dinner tomorrow night.”

Isaac stiffens.

I feel his muscles lock, turning to stone.

He pulls back slightly, a hurricane brewing in his eyes. “Is that supposed to shake me?”

“Does it?”

“Stop lying to yourself. We both know your piss-poor excuse for an ex-husband was never enough for you.”

“I loved him,” I counter. “Imarriedhim.”

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