Tangled (Playing With Fire)

She desperately wanted them to be on the same page.

“Look, I know you’re going to dump me and tell me this isn’t going to work, but you’re not giving us a chance, Scarlett,” he said. His gaze met hers when she started walking toward him, the roses clutched to her chest.

“Really?” Oh, she was feeling better by the second. His gray eyes darkened with a hint of anger, and she wanted to smile. She barely held it in check.

“Hell yes, really. You didn’t even give me a chance to finish talking to you yesterday on the phone. And what I was about to ask you was really important, Scarlett.” Yeah, he was definitely mad. The irritation was written on his face. She hated to admit it, but she kind of liked it when he was angry. He became rather passionate. And she liked it when Trevor was passionate.

Really, really liked it.

“What did you want to ask me?” She set the roses carefully on the coffee table, wishing she could put them in water but not wanting to break the tentative connection going on with Trevor.

He blinked, surprised, she guessed, at her rather calm and rational tone. “I, well, I wanted to ask you—”

“Because if it has anything to do with me going to New York with you, then the answer is yes,” she interrupted, pleased at the shocked light that grew in his eyes.

It was as if he couldn’t find his voice. It took him a few moments to speak. “You’re serious. You’ll come with me.”

“If you’ll have me.”

“Even though I’ll be the only person you know. Even though this move is a huge risk for both of us, especially you.” His tone was flat, his expression wary. She couldn’t help it, she laughed. Not at him, but at the entire situation and what they were about to do.

It was crazy. It was wonderful. She couldn’t wait.

“Are you trying to talk me out of it, Trevor? So far you’re doing a great job.” She stopped in front of him, her hands itching to touch him, pull him close, hold him forever.

“Hell no, I don’t want to talk you out of going. Come here.” He reached for her, his fingers circling around her wrist and pulling her close. She braced her hands against the solid wall of his chest, her fingers curling into the soft fabric of his shirt. God, he smelled good, felt good.

Felt like home. Felt like she belonged in his arms.

Trevor crushed her to him, holding her tight, and she buried her face against his chest. “I’m sorry,” she murmured into his shirt. “I shouldn’t have been awful to you yesterday on the phone.”

He stroked her hair, his fingers tangling in the wild curls. “You were scared. Hell, I know I’m scared.”

“Are you, Trevor?” She glanced up at him, surprised to see so much emotion shining in his eyes. All of it directed straight at her. “You always seem confident, so sure of what you’re doing.”

“I’m scared out of my ever loving mind. Going to New York and taking a chance like this? The opportunity is one I can’t pass up, but it still scares the shit out of me.” His arms held her even tighter. “It scares me even more to think about doing it without you.”

Her heart constricted painfully at his confession. “I can’t stand the thought of being without you either.”

“You won’t ever be without me again if I have any say in it.” He bent his head, brushed the sweetest, softest kiss to her mouth. “I love you, Scarlett.”

Tears sprang into her eyes at his words, and she felt them slip down her cheeks. “Oh God, Trevor, I love you, too. More than I can say.”

He chuckled, kissed her again. Harder this time and she couldn’t stop the little groan that escaped. “Then why are you crying?”

“They’re tears of happiness, you jerk.” She slapped his chest with her palm, gasped when he kissed her yet again. His tongue sparred with hers, his hands wandered over her and just like that, she wanted him. Wanted him naked, wanted him inside her.

It was so easy between them. Would it always be this easy?

Yes.

“You just love in

sulting me, don’t you?” He broke the kiss and leaned his forehead against hers. She smiled up at him.

“You have no reason to want to be with me.”

“I have every reason to want to be with you. You’re everything to me. Everything I want in a woman. We make a great team.”