Page 28 of Sass

For a few seconds, I was struck dumb by the mental image of Chris fucking a guy, fuckingme,meridinghim, himridingme—all of the above. That he liked to top was no surprise given his ballsy nature and it had been a long time between drinks for me. At six foot six, most guys expected me to top. But the truth was, I could go either way. I just didn’t get the opportunity as often as I liked.

From the satisfied smirk Chris wore, I realised I’d been played. He’d been fishing for a reaction and I’d just handed it to him on a platter.

I cleared my throat and soldiered on. “I felt the same way, back then.”

He scowled. “Now I hope you’re not about to say that I’ll change my mind as well, when I grow up, because that would be helluva patronising.”

I shook my head. “No, of course not. Only that things changed forme. And it’s not like I don’teverhook up. I’m only human, right? It’s just that I keep my eyes open for the chance at something more than that. I actually date now, something you wouldn’t have caught me dead doing back in the day.”

Chris studied me like I was a puzzle. “So, how’s that working out for you?”

I sighed. “To be honest, it’s hard work. Finding someone I like enough to date, but also have chemistry with, is like the proverbial needle in a haystack. But I’m not giving up. In two years, I’ve at least learned what Idon’twant.”

Chris eyed me in that predatory way I hadn’t felt since that night at the party. The way that made my balls draw up and my dick pay attention.

He pushed off the door, took a step into my space, and smiled up at me like he just fucking dared me to step back. I almost did. He stood so fucking close I could see a fine edge of grey that circled his beautiful green eyes, and the hit of something sweet and musky—possibly amber—rose from his smooth pale skin to drown my senses.

The intoxicating combination, along with his sheer proximity, sent sparks of arousal banging about in my balls enough to stir my cock. And when the tip of his pink tongue peeked out from between those shiny plush lips, my brain was halfway to kissing him before I grabbed onto my senses and pulled back from the edge of disaster.

“So.” He ran his finger down my chest and I fought a shiver. He studied me through those long dark lashes, the wash of his hot breath brushing my lips. “If you still hook up on occasion, does that mean you’d be open to reconsidering my offer?”

Yes, please.“No.” I forced a smile I didn’t feel as his fingers trailed fire across my skin through the thin cotton of my T-shirt. I took his hand from my chest and he pouted at the move, a flash of lightning painting his lips a pearly pink. “Wouldyouconsider dating instead of a hook-up?” I played him at his own game.

He hesitated, clearly confused. Then he pulled a face worthy of a toddler offered a carrot instead of a sweetie. “You already know the answer to that.” He licked his lips and looked me over in a way that made my stomach do that flippy thing I didn’t want to think about too closely. “Shame. I think we’d be fucking fireworks together.”

He was right.I felt it too. “Which is precisely my point. You are way, way too tempting for me to keep you to a single hook-up. And the fact you work right next door just messes with my head. I couldn’t avoid you or forget you. We’d be playing with fire, and you know it.”

He gave a sly grin and stepped back. “True. But it’s rather presumptuous to think I’d let you have me for more than a single hook-up. In case you didn’t get the memo, I don’t do repeats.”

I eyeballed him. Two could play at that game. “Trust me, you would. With me, you would.”

He stared at me for a long second, the room fading around us, until all that was left was the crazy ridiculous heat that flamed between us.

Chris broke it with a slow chuckle. “Well, I guess we’ll never know. But does that mean if Ididn’twork next door, your answer would be different?” He batted his lashes and I laughed.

“You’re a fucking tease.” I leaned my butt on the edge of the table and raked my gaze over him, enjoying the way his eyes lit up at the attention. “And we both know my answer would be a hell yeah, which is exactly why we’re not going there.”

He gave me a long sideways glance up and down, returning my interest. “We’ll see about that. I do like a challenge.”

And oh fuck, did my cock like the sound of that.

“And also—” He bit his lip suggestively. “—you’re still holding my hand.”

Shit.I dropped it like a hot stone, and he laughed. I wanted nothing more than to kiss the smirk right off those soft lips and his laughter bled away to a choked silence when I tipped his chin up with my fingers and our eyes met. His darkened to a deep olive green. He looked about ready to eat me alive, and I was so, so down with that. He leaned forward just a little and I was so fucking tempted.

But at the last second, I clawed myself back from the edge and moved my fingers from his chin to his chest, pushing him back a step. “You’re gonna make me regret telling you all of that, right?”

His expression bubbled with mirth. “Absolutely. Now that I know you want me and it’s just the pesky little issue of you looking for an actual boyfriend that’s keeping me from blowing your mind in bed, we’ll see just how long you can hold out against my charms. But believe me when I say, as delicious as you are, if you give in to the temptation, Iwon’tbe breaking my no-repeat rule, not even for you. I don’t carry torches, not for anyone, and I don’t get attached. And you’ll get no grief from me afterward. I get on well withallmy past hook-ups.”

I had no doubt about that. But it wasn’t Chris I was worried about getting attached. I already liked the prickly guy way too much to risk finding him irresistible in bed as well. “Blow my mind, huh? Now who’s being presumptuous?”

Chris gave a shark-like smile. “It’s not presumptuous if it’s fact, sweetheart.”

I snorted. “Get out of here before I start believing half of what you say.” I went to open the door but then paused. “Iamsorry for what I said that night. And I should’ve done a better job at an apology much earlier. I hope we can try and be friends.” I offered him my hand.

He looked at it for a moment before accepting, the strong warmth of his grip making my belly swoop.

“Friends,” he said softly, holding my gaze. “At least for now. I haven’t given up on fucking you.” He winked and slid his hand free of my grip, his fingers trailing lightly over the underside of my wrist. Christ, he was potent. “And just so you know,” he added, shaking his head like he couldn’t believe what he was about to say. “I might actually like it when you call me Chris. ButnotChristopher.NeverChristopher. It’s the name my family uses and the less said about them the better. That’s mostly what got my back up. But Chris is… good.” He flushed. “Okay, so I might actually like it.”

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