the engine off, the quiet that followed jarring in its intensity. Fliss glanced out the window. They’d stopped in a residential neighborhood. A nice one with manicured lawns and expensive cars in the driveways. Quiet ruled the night. No children played outside. Too late for that. She turned her attention to Alex. “Talk to me.”
He stared out the driver’s-side window. He didn’t speak.
Unacceptable. His anger would only fester if ignored. “Talk to me, Alex.”
He moved so fast, she didn’t have time to react. He yanked her toward him and slammed his mouth over hers. His tongue swept inside her mouth, daring her to stop him. She couldn’t. She didn’t want to. His masterful lips didn’t coax. They demanded. She did everything in her power to answer, twining her tongue with his. As the kiss deepened into something hot and wild and wholly necessary for her well-being, she cursed the console and seat belts that separated them. She wanted to climb over the barrier into his lap and press her body against his hard torso. But she was nothing if not resourceful. Desire threatening to overwhelm her, she clutched his hard shoulder with one hand while the other gripped the front of his shirt.
He gentled his kiss, nipping at her bottom lip, then soothing the spot with his tongue. She moaned her pleasure, and the kiss built up speed again. The hunger inside her, too. God, how much she wanted him.
Just as quickly as he’d grabbed her, Alex released her. She fell back against her seat and stared at him with wide eyes.
His chest heaving, his breaths came out as hard and fast as hers were. He gulped in air, then spoke. “Do you know what happened tonight?”
Her brain was so scrambled, all she could think to say was, “You…kissed me?”
He didn’t crack a smile. “I was talking about earlier. You had Mansfield eating out of the palm of your hand. You were in your element. He would’ve turned my ass down with no hesitation if you hadn’t been there.”
“Thanks.” The compliment sent a thrill through her. He was starting to realize she could be a true asset to Crescendo. She hoped he’d leave it at that, but she knew her wish wouldn’t be granted.
“If I were Mansfield, I would’ve given you anything you asked,” he said, his tone soft. “But as impressed as I was by you, I wasn’t happy because he didn’t agree to work with Crescendo.”
“I know, but we didn’t lose the deal. We have to regroup, that’s all.”
“Then,” he continued like she hadn’t spoken, “we get chased by paparazzi determined to get a scoop. They put your life in danger, so they could get some stupid photos.”
“I know that, Alex,” she murmured.
“Do you?” he asked, his voice chilling in its quiet intensity. “Do you know how it felt to have your life in my hands? To know that while I was trying to protect you, I was also putting your life in danger? Do you know how scared I was that I wouldn’t be able to stop them from causing an accident? How scared I was that something would happen to you?”
Stunned, Fliss didn’t know what to say. Was he admitting that he cared about her? That she was more than a nuisance to him, someone he kissed only to immediately regret the action?
“So yes, I kissed you,” he continued. “Because I needed the reassurance that you were okay. Because I couldn’t stop myself. That’s not me. I don’t do out of control. I don’t do scared. Being scared gets you nowhere fast. I can’t do this. I don’t know how to do this. So I won’t.” He started the engine and pulled away from the curb. “It’s settled.”
Was it? Fliss eased back into her seat. She should be feeling the sting of rejection again. The story of her life. But she wasn’t.
Alex felt for her. He’d all but admitted it. Shown her.
And if he did, what did that mean for them? For her?
She was scared. Scared to let him into her heart. Of being wrong again. Of misinterpreting concern or, hell, even lust as
Stephanie Bond
Celia Rivenbark
Dc Thome
Tariq Ali
Margery Allingham
John Barrowman; Carole E. Barrowman
Justine Elvira
Catherine Titasey
Adam Moon
Nancy Krulik