Page 47 of Playing With Fire
She nods, laces our fingers, and follows me back inside the house. “I appreciate your rationality,” she says behind me. “Clearly, I’ve thrown mine out the window.”
“I don’t expect mine to hang around for long,” I admit. Case in point, as soon as she’s through the door, I spin around and back her into it, caging her in with my body before crashing my lips to hers. Frantic doesn’t even begin to describe this kiss.
The sound of her phone ringing from her purse finally pulls me away from her now-swollen lips.
“That could be my mom, I’ll just be a second,” she says, ducking under my arm braced on the door by her head.
I move around the island to grab plates and begin dishing up, but I freeze when she says, “Hi, Gregor.”
The open floor plan allows her words to travel easily without me trying to eavesdrop.
“I’m glad the first meeting went well.” Pause. “Yes.” Pause. “That’s great.” Longer pause. “Mmhmm, which reminds me, I ran into Renee Billings at the aquarium today who mentioned something about a company retreat at the Outer Banks just before Thanksgiving?” Pause. “Right, well you never mentioned it to me and I’m afraid I can’t go. I can’t request time off of work so soon after being hired.” Pause. Shecomes back into view and I watch her face grow red and her jaw clench as she pinches the bridge of her nose, releasing a resigned sigh. “We’ll talk when you get home.”
She hangs up and slips her phone back in her purse and tosses her beer bottle in the recycling before walking around to my side of the bar.
“You got any vodka?”
“I’m not big on vodka, but I have top shelf tequila and limes.”
She nods. “That’ll do.”
I abandon the plates and turn to the cabinet, reaching high. Stretching my arm overhead like this causes my shirt to ride up and I feel her tongue land on the skin just above my waistband before I have the bottle in my hand—thank God, otherwise I might’ve dropped it on her head as my body jerks in response to her touch.
She licks her way from my hip bone to the strip of hair that runs from my belly button to the base of my dick, which is rapidly acquiring all the blood my body has to offer.
On her knees, she dips her fingertips into the top of my jeans and pulls down, revealing more of my skin.
I want to be everything she needs, but not like this.
“Hey,” I grab her hands and pull her up, “I’ll give you anything you want, but when you take it, it needs to be about us, not a reaction to anything he said or did.” I echo my words from that night at the lake because I mean them. For herandfor me. This already has the potential to destroy us both, no need to fan the flames by being reactionary.
She blows out a frustrated breath.
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” she repeats, taking a step away from me, rubbing her fingers across her forehead. “He didn’t even ask about my day. Didn’t ask about our daughter. He was only concerned that mylittle careeris interfering withhis plans. Maybe that’s what it is to be married…you just assume that person will always be there and after a while you don’t have to pretend to be interested anymore.”
“That’s not true,” I respond vehemently. Iloathethat attitude and everyone who supports it. “Don’t let him jade your thinking, Shannon. You should never take your partner for granted.”
“The crazy part is I’ve convinced myself that he broke his vows first. He vowed to put me above all others. He may not be sleeping with his colleagues or his clients, but he definitely puts their needs above mine. Too bad society views having sex as the only act of infidelity. I’ll be burned at the stake wearing a scarlet A if this ever gets out and not one person will stop and ask why I felt like this was my only choice.”
“You do have choices. Don’t allow him to make you think you don’t. They aren’t easy choices, but rarely are the important things in our lives decided by easy choices. I’m attracted to you, but this ends here if you feel like you’re being backed into a corner and I’m your only option.”
“You’re the only option I want,” she whispers after a beat.
I reach up again, grabbing the bottle quickly, and pour two shots. Seems silly to bother with mixed drinks when she clearly wants a buzz that will help block out Gregor’s bullshit.
She raises the shot glass to her lips, but I catch her wrist in my hand before she can throw it back in one swallow, just to make sure we’re on the same page.
Her eyes travel where my hand is gripping her firmly.
“I won’t lay a hand on you tonight if you’re buzzed or drunk. This is dangerous enough and not a risk I’m willing to take just for sex.”Goddamn Jake and his pep talk.
She pulls back to look at me, pure shock on her face. “Are you saying you want todateme?” I’m glad to know she and I are at least riding the same train of thought.
“I’m saying I want a chance to see where this could go, but you have to decide what comes next,” I tell her, pointedly looking at her shot glass. “If you need to get wasted tonight, I’ll keep you safe, but if you’re looking for a different ending, I suggest you rethink the liquor.”
Without hesitation, she keeps her eyes on mine as she flips the shot glass upside down over the sink, pouring out its contents. “I already know what comes next.”
My hungry smile spreads across my lips as the woman transforms before my eyes.Thisis a woman strong enough to get through medical school.Thisis a woman who knows how to ask for what she needs sexually.Thisis a woman so brave and confident that her fire could never be put out by the likes of Gregor Hartley.
