Page 37 of Unearthed Dreams
“Tell me you don’t want me,” I repeated, my voice stronger now. “Tell me you don’t think about me. Tell me you haven’t been watching me all day, that you weren’t jealous when Trevor touched me. Tell me you don’t want this, and I’ll leave.”
His jaw clenched. “Fuck.”
And then he moved. One moment he was across the room, the next he had me pressed against the wall between stacked boxes, one hand tangled in my hair while the other gripped my hip. His forehead pressed against mine, his breathing ragged.
“Tell me to stop,” he whispered.
I grabbed his shirt, pulling him closer. “No.”
“Fuck it,” he growled, and finally,finallykissed me.
His lips were firm, demanding but careful, like he was still holding himself back. I made a frustrated sound, pushing onto my toes, trying to get closer. His hand tightened in my hair, tilting my head just so, and then?—
Oh.
Sothiswas what all those books meant by ‘melting.’ My knees actually went weak as his tongue swept against mine. Every nerve ending felt alive, electric, burning everywhere we touched. His hand slid from my hip to my lower back, pulling me flush against him, and I gasped into his mouth at the feel of him, solid and warm and real.
The storage room lights flickered overhead, harsh fluorescent throwing shadows across boxes of liquor and bar supplies. The wall was hard against my back, and something dug into my shoulder blade. But I didn’t care. All that mattered was Kai’s mouth on mine, his hands holding me like I might disappear if he let go.
When he finally broke the kiss, we were panting hard. He didn’t go far, just far enough to rest his forehead against mine again. His eyes stayed closed, like he was afraid to look at me.
“Charlie,” he breathed, my name a broken sound. “We shouldn’t?—”
I cut him off with another kiss, shorter this time but just as fierce. “Stop telling me what we shouldn’t do.”
His laugh was rough, almost desperate. “You don’t know what you’re asking for.”
“Then show me.”
Chapter Fourteen
KAI
This was wrong.So fucking wrong.
But I couldn’t stop. Not with Charlie pressed against me, making those little desperate sounds in the back of her throat. Not with her hands fisted in my shirt like she was afraid I’d push her away again. And Christ, I should. I should stop this right now.
But she’d hit the nail on the head. Seeing another man put his hands on her had done something to me. Sapped all logical thought from my brain. And when he came up to order a beer? So fucking polite and hipster-cool, I wanted to pummel him just for existing.
She wasmine.
And when she nipped at my bottom lip, clearly mimicking something she’d read in one of her romance novels, my control snapped. I growled against her mouth, sliding my hands down to grip her thighs. She gasped as I lifted her, instinctively wrapping her legs around my waist.
“Hold on,” I murmured against her lips, not willing to breakthe kiss even as I carried her through the dark hallway toward the stairs. Her fingers threaded through my hair, tugging lightly, and I nearly stumbled. Jesus. Everything about her was so fucking innocent, and here I was, corrupting her in the worst possible way.
The stairs were a challenge. I had to focus on not killing us both while Charlie’s mouth traced a burning path down my neck. My grip on her thighs tightened as I shouldered open my apartment door, kicking it shut behind us.
I was going to hell for this. But at least the trip would be worth it.
The taste of beer on her tongue finally registered through the haze of want, and guilt slammed into me. Fuck. She’d been drinking. And here I was, taking advantage.
“Charlie.” I pulled back, sliding her down my body even as she chased my lips. “Charlie, wait.”
“No more waiting.” Her fingers slipped under the hem of my shirt, and I caught her wrists gently.
“You’ve been drinking.”
She scoffed. “Barely.”
