His hand massaged my waist and my tummy quivered, my mouth burning as I recalled that night. Frankly, I’d tried a lot not to think about that night and that kiss he had no right to take. It had taken effort not to think about it but I did it. I refused to give in to him.
“I have a boyfriend.” My throat constricted as my jaw trembled. His hands still on me. My eyebrows narrowed. “And you’re an asshole.”
A husky chuckle as he passed cool breath over my mouth. Mouthwash and something spicy, cinnamon and orange zest. An aftershave or something. Hands left my waist as he bit his lip, palms on either side of my head again. “I noticed you didn’t answer the question.”
“And I noticed.” I paused, throwing hands at his chest. He barely moved, the guy a mountain. “You can’t take a hint. Not to mention you slept with my mom, you dick.”
I still got shivers thinking about that, and though Mom hadn’t mentioned seeing him again, that didn’t mean he hadn’t. The whole thing was a complete violation and…
Like stated, I had a boyfriend.
Thoughts of Sinclair took my brain, and I tried to keep them there, LJ’s smile wide. He tucked his hands under his arms, still way too close for my liking. He leaned in. “I haven’t seen your mom in that way since that morning. We had a fun time, and that was it. She’s moved on. I’ve seen her at other parties. It’s cool, and you are talking about everything else but what I asked you.”
His hand encased my throat, and I jabbed at him. “Stop.”
“I want you to admit it,” he hummed, my windpipe jumping in his hand. His eyes burned like blue fire. “I want you to quit dancing around it and tell the truth. Admit that you didn’t want that kiss to stop that night. Admit that you don’t want this to stop now.”
His hand ensnared my wrist, and he jerked me up against him, my legs shaking as I grappled his hoodie just to hold on. He was hard everywhere, and I could feel every inch of him. Even through his thick hoodie.
“You’ll be holding your breath,” I cut, working my wrist away, but he handled me again, my fist in his hand.
“I’m going to have fun breaking you, beauty queen,” he threatened, dragging my knuckles across his lips. Heat seeped directly into my digits, the peek of his tongue hardening my nipples. I wanted him to stop. I wanted to knee him right in his balls and tell him to get the fuck out of my office.
“What’s going on here?”
But for some reason, I only forced him away at the sound of a voice, my boyfriend’s voice.
Sinclair, in his suit for a day at the office, stood in my door frame, his hands in his pockets. He’d texted that morning saying he’d be meeting me for lunch. His morning meetings were going to be wrapping up early, and he wanted to see me.
I just hadn’t thought it’d be this early.
It couldn’t even be eleven yet, but still. He was here. He frowned, and I realized how much space LJ and I didn’t have in proximity to each other. He was still all up on me, hadn’t even moved despite me pushing him away.
I backed up, moving to my desk. I put a hand out to LJ. “He came by for some extra credit.”
Sinclair knew LJ was in one of the classes I TA for. In fact, I was sure he knew to the point where it was ad nauseam. Especially in those first few weeks of classes. I’d bitched about my situation more than once after that day LJ had embarrassed me in front of the whole class and even more so that LJ was arrogant enough to think he didn’t have to show up to recitation. Sinclair had heard it, a running joke at the dinner table between us.
But no one was laughing now, LJ’s hands sliding into his pockets as he watched this tension back and forth. He looked about two seconds away from grabbing a tub of popcorn, wetting his lips a little. “Yeah, extra credit.”
Sinclair rocked back on his patent leather shoes. “Interesting way to do it.”
LJ did almost laugh then and mortified, I raised my hands. “I was giving him an assignment.”
“Yeah, looked like it.” His gaze transferred over to me. “Anyway. You done now, or can we go to lunch?”
A lot sat underneath that tone and more than I wanted to deal with in front of LJ. I cut him a look. “Get it done and on time.”
“Sure thing.” He took it out of his back pocket for emphasis, but upon passing a simmering Sinclair, he stopped. “Good seeing you at the party the other night, bro. You coming again soon?”
Since I didn’t know what the hell that was about I shifted my gaze to Sinclair, the guy suddenly averting his eyes.
Ignoring LJ, he squeezed them before looking at me. “I may have stopped by the other night.”
“Other night? Where? His house across the street?”
Grumbling a little, Sinclair nodded. “Uh, yeah. One of the partners wanted to stop by. Got an invite out of the blue.” He panned to LJ, eyes cold. “Wasn’t there long. Came to your house after actually.”
“Which night?” Because he hadn’t mentioned a damn thing, and the last time he’d been to my house was last week. He said he’d been busy, working.