Page 37 of Over the Edge

Seriously? The guy treated her like a leper after he kissed her the last time. Why in the heck was he so interested in kissing her now? “You’re giving me whiplash. You keep blowing hot and cold, like you can’t make up your mind about me. Which is it? Do you like me and want to be with me or not?”

He sighed. “I like you. I want to be with you. Hell, I just want you. But I also know it’s a lousy idea for any number of reasons. Hence my internal struggle.”

“Well, let me know once you figure it out, eh?”

He chuckled reluctantly. “You don’t let me get away with a thing, do you?”

“Nope. I’m your swim buddy. It’s my job to hold your feet to the fire.”

He stared at her intently, the turbulence of his thoughts visible in his eyes. “Well…hell,” he muttered.

He took a step closer.

Step back. Do not let this happen. He’s sending all kinds of mixed signals.

He tucked his chin down.

Don’t be an idiot, Anna.

His breath was warm on her lips.

I know better. But I want this.

His lips brushed across hers.

Yes. That. Right there. That’s exactly what I want. He’s exactly what I want.

And then all common sense flew out of her head as he kissed her. He was gentle at first, almost apologetic, his mouth brushing across hers, warm and resilient. Gradually, he deepened the kiss, giving her all the time in the world to break it off. Not that she did, of course.

Not only did she not stop it, but her free hand came up to his shoulder, urging him to deepen the pressure of his mouth against hers.

His tongue traced the crease of her lips, and her mouth opened to welcome him, an invitation to explore more deeply, to take more. He turned her other hand loose and his arm swept around her waist, drawing her up against his body.

He was warm and hard and strong, all the things she loved in a man. He was also respectful, not rushing her, giving her time to extricate herself from the kiss. Which was decent and deeply appreciated. But also not necessary. She totally didn’t want out of this kiss.

Her body undulated against his, and she moaned in the back of her throat as need tore through her belly. Electric bolts of pleasure jolted through her, stoking her craving for him into a storm raging deep in her core.

She took a step forward, pressing him to move back. He gave way. She took another step.

He mumbled against her mouth in mounting urgency, “Wait a minute…you’re heading toward the bed…we can’t…it would be tempting fate…there’s no way I’d be quiet if I made love to you…”

That last mumbled observation made her smile against his mouth. “Me neither,” she confessed. “I would end up screaming at the top of my lungs for sure.”

“Top of your lungs, huh?” he murmured between the kisses he feathered across her cheek and along her jaw.

“Oh yeah. Howling to the moon,” she mumbled.

“This I have to hear.”

She leaned back enough that he straightened to stare back at her. Did he mean that? Well, okay then.

“It’s a date,” she said in a hushed voice.

His eyes abruptly glowed like the sun, full of fire and fury so bright she could barely look at the desire raging in his gaze. He cupped the back of her head with his powerful, gentle hand. “I’m going to ask you to consent to sleep with me one more time. But the next time I ask, you and I are going to be naked and in a bed.”

She silently wished him luck arranging that in this hyper-watchful society, but she already knew what her answer would be.

CHAPTERNINE

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