Page 44 of One Touch

“I haven’t agreed to it.”

Beckett sighed and tossed his clipboard on the old utility bench with a clatter. “Kate, I’m not going to argue with you about this again. You wanted to make the changes in the first place. I know what I’m doing, and you talk too much.”

I narrowed my eyes as I glared at him. Beckett was the most frustrating human on the planet. I sucked in a deep breath, ready to toss in a few jabs and argue a little bit before ultimately agreeing to the updates exactly as he’d laid them out.

“First of all—”

A flash of darkness swept across Beckett’s gray eyes before he took one step and crowded my space. One hand clamped around my jaw as he advanced and pressed my back against the wall. His mouth swallowed my argument in a hot, rough kiss.

Stuck between the wall and his hard body, a shocked gasp slipped between my lips. His hand was rough, demanding. My body reacted, and one leg lifted to his hip. Beckett’s free hand gripped my thigh, driving my back harder against the wall.

Every inch of him was solid and tense. His tongue swept across my lips, demanding I open for him. His rough palm moved lower, circling my throat. I opened for him with a gasp, and he groaned into me. The rattle of his deep grunt vibrated through me. His lips were soft but firm, and there was no tenderness in the kiss, only a steady demand of Beckett completely claiming me.

He pulled himself off me, and my breath was ragged. The back of my hand flew to my swollen lips.

Beckett smirked down at me, still invading my space. “Well, that’s one way to get you to shut the hell up.”

I lifted my chin in defiance, trying like hell to ignore the fact my panties were soaked through from one kiss.

“We can’t kiss every time we disagree.”

Beckett’s eyes roamed over my face, completely unconcerned that anyone could walk in and see us making out in the back hallway. “I know that. But every time we argue, all I can think about is how good it would feel to have your lips on mine.”

My cheeks flushed, and I tried to regain my composure and not dissolve into a needy puddle at his feet. I had never been pushed up against a wall andtakenbefore, but holy hell if I didn’t like it.

His intensity was palpable. “You like to push my buttons.” My knees wobbled at the sharp edge in his voice as he continued: “If you’re not careful, I’ll show you exactly what happens when you push me too far.”

My jaw dropped open at his dangerous promise. I tipped my head up, hoping for another kiss. Instead, Beckett wore a cocky, self-satisfied grin and pulled back, his hand still gently pinning me against the wall by my throat.

Annoyance warred with desire as my blood thrummed under his hands.

“If we cross this line, you have to know this is all I can give you.”

Sparks of electricity crackled under his touch. Anyone could walk in and catch us. The thought alone sent heat pooling between my legs.

I swallowed hard. “It’s enough. You are enough.”

Beckett smirked and lowered his face. Before I could react, his tongue stroked up the side of my throat before he planted a rough kiss on my mouth and stormed out the back door.

SIXTEEN

BECKETT

I was losingmy goddamn mind—that wasexactlywhat I was doing.

I had told myself that I wouldn’t touch her. One dance and I was mentally seeking out ways to run my fingertips against the back of her hand, brush past her in a hallway, get just close enough to earn a hit of her heady perfume.

All while being totally pissed off that she’d managed to get under my skin. I hated to admit that a sick part of me enjoyed getting under her skin. Her fire was a turn-on.

I can’t believe I almost missed out on this side of her.

A quiet, pettier part of me reveled in the fact that Declan hadn’t seen this side of her either. Using the nail gun, I drowned out my thoughts, driving nails into the wood with heavy slams. I didn’t need to think about how wrong I may have been about the woman who’d chosen my brother. How different that person was from the Kate I was getting to know.

It’s enough. You are enough.

Her breathy words rattled around inside my skull. I hadn’t pegged Kate for the kind of girl to agree to a fling, but if we could work something out, I’d be more than willing to bend my rules for her.

But first I needed to figure out how to get this job done when my focus was shot to hell.

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