Page 25 of Falling Fast

She’d been known to hold a grudge or two. “Depends on what you did to make me mad.”

He chuckled and wiped his hands on the paper napkin she’d given him. Lean, strong hands, the bronzed skin nicked in places. What she wouldn’t give to feel them running all over her naked body right now.

She eyed him, wishing she could see inside his head and understand why he was so set on all or nothing. She didn’t like feeling emotionally naked like this when he still kept so much from her. “So that’s your reason? You won’t settle.”

“Mostly.”

“So there’s more?” she pressed, wanting to put them on a more even keel, emotionally speaking.

“Yeah, there’s more.”

She waited a beat for him to continue, but he didn’t, and she couldn’t help but laugh softly. “I hate that you’re leaving me hanging.”

He merely smiled, the smug edge to it telling her it was intentional and that he was enjoying it. “Gotta keep you guessing.”

Oh really? “All part of your plan to keep me interested?”

“Maybe.” Before she could think of a smart comeback, he pushed up from the couch. “Well. Big day tomorrow. Better let you get a good night’s sleep.”

I’d sleep better after I’ve had you inside me.She scrambled to her feet and followed him to the door, wishing things were different. That he would drop the insistence on the commitment issue, stay the night and put an end to the longing that had tortured her for so long. “You want the rest of the pizza?”

“Nah. I know you love cold pizza for breakfast.”

She frowned. “And just how do you know that?” How did he seem to know so damn much about her?

He paused at the door, hand on the knob, that long, hard body a mere two feet away from her. “I know a lot more about you than you realize.”

Easton. Had to be. “I’ll save you some.”

“No thanks. I’m a plain old coffee for breakfast kind of guy. If you’re up early enough, we can go grab some at the café on the corner before the meeting.” His gaze slid over her face, coming to rest on her mouth for a moment before returning to her eyes.

Tingles of heat spread across her skin as she remembered the way he kissed. Dominant, yet seductive. Scorching hot, yet holding part of himself back. She wanted to see him unleash the wild hunger and need she sensed in him.

Silent laughter lit the depths of his eyes, as though he knew his presence was tormenting her. “But since we both know you’re not a morning person, I won’t hold my breath on that one.”

With that teasing —and accurate—admonishment, he walked out of her apartment.

Charlie locked the door behind him, her entire body aching for his touch. She laid her forehead against the door and let out a frustrated groan.

Jamie wasn’t the only one who wouldn’t settle. She wanted him and no one else, but he refused to give into her.

That left her in a hell of a situation, because the man was slowly driving her crazy and there was no relief in sight.

****

Jamie gave up trying to force himself to sleep an hour later and rolled over onto his back in his empty bed. No matter how much he tried, he couldn’t stop thinking about Charlie, and the unrelieved hunger between them that threatened to burn a hole in his gut.

She’d been so real with him tonight, so relaxed, right up until he’d pushed her about what was holding her back from giving them an honest chance. It had taken an act of will not to take her face between his hands and kiss her until she couldn’t stand up.

He didn’t know what the hell she was so afraid of. According to Easton, she hadn’t had any bad breakups that he knew of, or had her heart broken by any of the guys she’d dated. So what was it? Life was way too unpredictable and too damn short to spend it holding back, and she knew it as well as he did.

It was torture, knowing she wanted him and that she was just on the other side of the wall. But he couldn’t give in. The stakes were too high. She was too important.

His cock was rock hard beneath the sheet, aching, just from thinking about her. Since it wasn’t going away anytime soon and he’d never be able to sleep with his body wound so tight, he gave in and slid a hand down his stomach to grasp it.

He closed his eyes, fell into one of his favorite fantasies about Charlie that he’d dreamed up almost a year ago. She was as naked as him, kneeling between his spread feet, dark eyes aglow with hunger as she stared up into his eyes. Her tongue darted across her lush lower lip as she watched him stroke himself, her fingers flexing restlessly on the backs of his thighs.

So many nights he’d thought about her this way, spinning fantasies about what it would be like with her. She burned with a passion that was impossible to ignore.

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