Page 47 of Reckless Temptation

“No!” She slammed her palms on my chest to push me away, but I didn’t stagger back far. Keeping her within my embrace, I made sure she stayed right here with me.

“Get away from me. I told you no before. And I’ll say it a thousand times more. I warned you that you won’t win.” She blinked up at me as she scowled. Rain began to fall, but it didn’t stop her from shouting at me. “You won’t win this with me. I won’t let you get close enough to hurt me.”

“I’m not?—”

She scoffed, laughing once, and raised her hand to slap me. She’d done it once, and that was the first and last time she’d strike me.

I caught her hand and held it, feeling the strength in her push.

“Don’t say it. Don’t even think about fucking saying you’re not hurting me.” She licked her lips as the rain picked up more. “I don’t even want to know why you’re targeting me and bullying me and trying to confuse me and—no. If you’re in that house, ifyou’re someone associated with Tiffany Lorsen, I wantnothingto do with you.”

I knew it. I wasn’t slow or stupid. Of course, she’d be suspicious of my bullying her on Tiffany’s behalf. That was precisely what I was doing, but now was not the time to admit that. I had to tread carefully.

“They’re friends of the family,” I explained. Technically, that wasn’t a complete lie, not that I was being too careful about honesty with her. My dad and George were good friends way back before they drifted apart somewhat over the years.

I couldn’t tell her that Tiffany was my stepsister. She’d ice me out more than she already was, and I couldn’t live without her in my life. I couldn’t risk not being able to tentatively get close to her like this.

Sabrina was right, though. She wouldn’t let me get close. And it pissed me off that I wanted to peel her layers back and matter to her. That pathetic need to have her attention rose up once more.

“I don’t care. Let me alone, Nick.” She shook her head, almost pleading with me instead of demanding it sassily. “It’s not worth it. Find someone else to bother.”

It was worth it. I had to at least look like I was trying to mess with her and ruin her reputation so that Tiffany wouldn’t tell George about my mom being unfaithful.

Thunder boomed overhead as the wind picked up. Still, we stared each other down, but there was no chance of looking serious and strong when we had to squint just to see.

“You’re not walking home in a fucking storm like this.”

“Walking home?” She furrowed her brow, then scowled. “For God’s sake. My car was towed out there?”

I nodded, guiding her under the shade of a tree’s canopy. “You’re not walking all the way home,” I repeated.

“Says who?” she shot back.

“Me.” Not giving her another chance to argue, I took her hand and hurried toward the pool house. Taking her inside the main house was out of the question. I didn’t want to share her with any of the law students or the professors, in case they wanted to talk to her again.

I wanted her to myself, and the pool house was simply closer—and drier—than standing around outside in a heavy rainstorm.

After I opened the door, I pulled her inside with me. We were both soaked, doused thoroughly from the rain just from the short run over here.

Catching our breath, we stood near the entrance. I closed the door and locked it, just in case Tiffany should wander by.

The second I turned my gaze onto Sabrina, I held back a growl of desire that climbed up through me.

If there were ever another good time to crack a wet T-shirt contest joke with this woman… this was it.

“I don’t want anything to do with you,” she reminded me coolly.

“You don’t?” I grinned as I stalked toward her, driven to show her how much she’d actually wanted me before. Her body wouldn’t lie.

Just like I worried it would go if I had her alone with me, I fell into an instant pit of desire. It consumed me, taunting me tomake a move and let her feel the evidence of how much of a liar she was. I was addicted to the opportunity to make her cream and moan those sexy sounds.

“No. I want nothing to do with you,” she insisted hotly.

I snaked my arm around her and tugged her close. “Then prove it.”

“I—”

Crushing my lips over hers, I kissed her silent.

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