Page 20 of Tempting Her Forbidden Boss

His muscles tightened—catching her, stopping her. It felt appallingly good. She twisted again, only succeeded in pressing her breasts even harder against his chest. Her nipples screamed with sensitivity. ‘Okay, no. But I have done self-defence classes.’ She tried to twist free one more time.

‘Let me guess—practising against other women, right?’

Damn. She fought harder. But he must have had some kind of fighter training too. It couldn’t just be his sheer strength stopping her. Oh, hell, the adrenalin surged through her—excitement, challenge, anticipation. She summoned her strength back up.

‘I don’t think you should do that again.’ He grunted as she hit out with her leg.

‘Why not?’ Panting, she sent him a death look.

‘Because all you’re doing is turning me on.’ Goaded, he pushed her from him. ‘And you’re turned on too. You’re aching for it, just like I am.’

Breathless, she stared, mouth falling at his arrogant certainty. But standing with her feet planted shoulder-width apart, she felt it, the flood of juices that would make his entry slick, the softening within her. He was right, so right.

She bit down on her lips. Wanting and angrily not wanting to want. Her teeth seemed to sharpen. Every muscle primed. She could howl with the need.

‘You want to fight for it? You like it fast and hard? ’Cause I can do that. I can do that right now,’ he growled. ‘But tell me, who is it you’re really fighting, Dani? Is it me or is it yourself?’

She gasped. ‘You arrogant jerk.’

‘Yeah.’ His laugh was rough. ‘But it’s just sex. It’s just fun.’ He walked towards her again. ‘You already know how incredible we’d be.’

It was surprisingly easy to fell a full-grown man—but she did have the element of surprise. A quick kick with her leg tripped him and sent him to the floor. But he was faster—his hand catching her ankle before she could dodge back to a safe distance. He pulled. The breath knocked from her lungs as she thudded down on top of him. He rolled, spinning her over and pinning her half under him. He was heavy. Hard. The shiver ran through her whole body. His body flexed in response.

Their eyes met.

‘I could beat you if I wanted to,’ she said, wincing at her breathlessness.

‘I’m sure you could, if you wanted to.’ His hand swept down her side.

‘Get off. You’re heavy.’ She wasn’t in the least afraid, but she was desperate to deny the way her body was softening— the way her bones were melting with need.

‘Oh...no...’ he said slowly, brushing her hair from her eyes with gentle fingers before putting his hand on her hip. ‘I don’t want to.’

‘I want you to,’ she lied.

‘Do you?’ He stroked up the side of her body, his hand gently sweeping up to cup her breast, his thumb caressing the stiff peak. ‘You don’t want to do anything about this?’

She didn’t play dumb and ask what he meant. Instead she chomped on the urge to arch her back so it would press her nipple harder against the palm of his hand. And she pleaded with her hips to stay still and not rock that little bit more into his hardness. She dug her fingers into the carpet. The heat was stifling—it wasn’t the weight of him hindering her breathing, it was the searing temperature between them.

Their eyes held, vision intensifying. Every inch of her body loved the feel of him, but her head was hurting.

‘It would be a really bad idea,’ she whispered. She lowered her lashes so she wouldn’t drown in his eyes and say something she’d regret. ‘My life is complicated enough right now.’

There was a long moment of silence when they were utterly motionless, both straining against the delicious torture of temptation.

‘Yeah,’ finally he groaned. ‘So is mine.’ He rolled and stood in the one movement. Shook his head as he looked down at her. ‘I’ll stay away.’ Then he walked—fast—as if to emphasise it. ‘I’ll get your bag.’

Dani scrambled to her feet as soon as he was gone. Smoothed her hands down her flaming cheeks, tried to get her grip back and shake off the stab of disappointment. Unbelievable. She’d been so close to surrendering everything just then. But she’d spoken the truth—her life was complicated enough. And messing around with a guy like Alex would only make that worse. Despite what she’d said, she wasn’t a player. She needed to stay on the sidelines.

He returned a few minutes later, lugging her pack, didn’t look at her as he spoke. ‘I’ll show you to your room.’ He led the way up another flight of stairs, stopping at an open door.

‘This is your bedroom. You have a bathroom through that door.’ He nodded towards the far comer of the room.

‘Where’s your bedroom?’

The comer of his mouth tilted up. ‘You want to see it?’

‘No, I just want to ensure it’s far, far from mine.’ She was only half kidding.

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