Page 64 of Not That Complicated

His hips twitched involuntarily, pushing into me. He was still hard. I still was not. “I’m not giving you another reason to hate me, Ray,” he said. His kiss was still soft but edged with urgency, his lips grazing mine lightly then deepening the pressure. I opened to it. He slid his tongue over mine once, twice, then withdrew.

“I don’t hate you,” I said with surprise.

“Right.” He lazily stroked my back.

“I don’t! You didn’t know about me and Fraser.”

“You believe me?” He sounded surprised.

“Yes, of course.” I kissed him. He moaned sweetly when I nipped his bottom lip and sucked on it.” I wouldn’t let a man who I thought was an adulterer in my bed,” I said.

And then I froze.

Wait. Hang on. I straight-armed him backward when he went to chase my lips.

“Are you...oh my god. You’re makingmethe adulterer, aren’t you?”

“What?” Adam sounded dazed. His voice sharpened. “What?” he snapped.

“Exactly. What about Mr. Muscles?”

“Who?”

“Gym boy. Big guy from the coffee shop. Your soul-gazing partner.”

After a beat of hesitation, he said, “Jasper?”

“His name isJasper?”

“He’s my personal trainer. And he’s a friend. We’ve been over this.”

“What’s he training you in? It looked very personal from where I was standing.”

Adam glared at me. “I know what you’re doing, Ray. You’re picking a fight, and it’s not going to work.” He hooked a thigh over mine and dragged me closer with the power of his magnificent quads alone. “I am not in a relationship with Jasper or anyone. I am a free man who can kiss or fuck anyone he wants and for some shit-brained reason—” he sounded strangled with fury, “—that’syou. And you drive me absolutelycrazy.” He dragged me even closer. “You’re not pushing me away with your nonsense.”

“How—

He kissed me ferociously, driving past all my defences and owning my mouth like it was his to take. He didn’t stop until I was shaking. Then he held my face between his hands and stared at me. “Go to sleep. I don’t care how mad you make me, you’re not pushing me away and I will not leave you alone after a day like this.”

“You did last time,” I muttered.

“Yeah, well, unlike some idiots—” he flicked my forehead, “—I reflect and learn.”

“Bet I could piss you off enough to make you leave,” I said.

“You can’t out-stubborn me, and I won’t leave when you need me. Or someone,” he said bitterly.

“Adam.”

“I will gag you.”

“But—”

“Zip it.” He rolled me over, lay on top of me again, and I zipped it.

It took a while, but my heart rate slowed and synchronised with his. God, he smelled good. He smelled great. Warm and sweet like honey, the fancy Manuka kind from New Zealand which is organic and costs fifty quid a jar and you can’t stop eating it by the spoonful.

Embarrassment tinged the edges of my relaxation. Yes, I could be forgiven for freaking out. I could be forgiven for directing it at Adam. It didn’t make me any less of an arsehole.

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