Page 106 of Zero Chance

Her hand froze on the hardback titledNever Be Lied to Again.Reaching past her, I pushed the volume back in the one inch she’d pulled it out, and leaving my hand there, I rested it against the metal shelf, trapping her between me and the books.Then, I used my free hand to take hold of her wrist and ease the sleeve of her sweater down to reveal her tattoo.

“Honest question,” I asked, running my thumb over the feathered design and making her shudder.“Was that logo on the envelope an M for Mistress or a W for Waverly?”

Her only answer was to tug her hand free and curl both arms against her chest protectively.Then dropping back onto her heels as if defeated, she cowardly remained facing the shelf with her back to me.

She stood there awkwardly, exhaling loudly, and I knew she was trying to form an escape plan instead of answering.

But I wasn’t letting her get away.Not this time.

Tipping my face in close to her ear, I lowered my voice and asked, “Did you really think I wouldn’t figure it out?”

Waverly tried to turn the other direction away from me and duck under my arm.But I shifted to block her, and she jarred to a halt.

“You’re crafty.I’ll give you that,” I added.“You were this close to evading me completely, but Iknowit was you I had my tongue inside.”

She whimpered.In fear or lust, I couldn’t tell.But she still wouldn’t turn around, and it pissed me off.

“Dammit, turn around and face me.”

So she did.Moving slowly, she lifted her chin and looked me directly in the eyes.

It was more than I could take.My body and brain went haywire.

There was just something about her large, cautious brown eyes that tightened around my chest and robbed me of rational thought.

Yet all she did was watch me, waiting for me to make the next move or show my hand so she could react before I did.

Determined to throw her off track, I moved in without thinking.

Wrapping a hand around the back of her neck, I hauled her against me and plastered my mouth to hers.

Her lips were sweet and soft, supple and giving, and I groaned as I started to sink into them, my tongue slipping out to touch hers.

God, she tasted good.

She even started to kiss me back, her mouth saying hello to mine?—

Until she shoved me away abruptly.

“What the hell?”she demanded.

Jostled from the desire, I scowled as reality returned to me.

“I don’t know!”I bellowed defensively.“You’re the one who just had to go and look at me like that.”

“Youtoldme to look at you,” she cried.

“Not likethat.”

“What?How was I freaking looking at you?”

“I don’t know.You?—”

I gritted my teeth, not sure what to say.I’d been anxious and hopeful to find my mystery girl and finish what we’d started that night.But learning she was Waverly changed everything.

I felt deceived.

Lied to.

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