Page 33 of Under Pressure

“So if I told you I was going out with someone not related to the study, you wouldn’t have anything to say?”

I stay silent, not liking where this is headed.

She smirks, the same way I’ve probably done to her countless times. “Actually, this would be a great time to tell you, then—”

I don’t let her finish, my body already halfway across the room before I realize what I’m doing. I cup the back of her head and bring her mouth to mine, cutting off anything she was about to say about other guys. She tastes sweet, like the sugar cookies she brought for us to snack on today, and it’s all I can do not to utterly devour her.

I release my hold on her and tell her in no uncertain terms, “Don’t lie to me.”

Her eyes take a second to focus before she narrows them. “You didn’t even give me a chance to say no.”

“He should know better.”

“Because of the ethics? Or because of you?”

I pause, keeping my mouth shut.

“And what are the ethics of us kissing?” she continues, on a roll now. “Is it a conflict of interest?”

“No. Neither of us has any kind of power over the other.”

She rests her fingertips against my chest lightly. “You’re saying I don’t have any kind of power over you?”

My mouth dries at her sultry expression, an aura of assertive energy around her I have to admit I find wildly arousing. It’s so at odds with her normal sweet nature, something only I draw out of her. I’m not sure if that’s necessarily a good thing, but I can’t help but take pleasure in it.

I shake my head, realizing she’s waiting for an answer.

The light in her eyes fades and she steps back against the door again, uncertainty now on her face.

She must have taken me shaking my head as saying no. The truth is, I don’t want her to have power over me. But even seeing a glimpse of her insecurity has my stomach doing a twisting motion I don’t like.

“Do I have power over you?” I ask, instead of fully acknowledging what’s going on inside me.

“No,” she rushes to say, too fast of a denial for it to seem genuine.

“So we’re equals, then. No conflict of interest.”

“Right.” She nods hesitantly.

“So we could keep kissing if we wanted.”

“Is that something you want?”

Yes. I refuse to say it aloud, but show her instead, taking her mouth again, settling a hand on her lower back to draw her closer, but she pushes me away.

I immediately let go, stepping back.

“What are we doing?” she asks, the slightest hint of worry in her eyes.

“Why are you focused on that?”

“Because you keep kissing me!” She throws her hands up in the air. “You’ve made it clear you’re not looking for anything more, so what is this, then?”

My eyes flick between hers, absolutely knowing she’s right but unwilling to stop whatever this is happening between us. “This could be a… mutually beneficial arrangement.”

Her brows rise. “You Slytherins and what’s beneficial to you,” she mutters.

I ignore her, continuing, “We could just be two people who occasionally kiss.” I step closer, her body instinctively swaying toward mine. She can’t deny she wants this either. I lean down, whispering in her ear, “And those kisses don’t have to be restricted to the mouth.”

---