Forbidden (Playing With Fire)

“You did nothing, I swear. I’m just tired.” She tried to smile, knew it probably didn’t look real but she just couldn’t make any more effort. “I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”

“Michaela.” He shifted, moved in closer, and she tilted her head to look up at him. He towered over her, his shoulders so broad he obliterated everything and all she could see was him. Smell him, feel him, God if he came any closer, taste him. “Don’t go.”

His husky voice curled around her, filled with promise. Of what, she couldn’t be sure.

“I have to.”

He rested his hand against the back of her neck and reached for her hair, tugging so her head tilted even more. “Don’t. Please.”

She wanted to speak, her lips parted, ready to protest but he pressed a single finger to the center of her mouth, silencing her.

He’d said please. And she couldn’t resist that. Not even if she wanted to.

Chapter Three

Austin had Michaela right where he wanted her. In his arms, his body pinned her against a wall, one hand in her silky soft hair, the other touching her mouth. A mouth he’d fantasized about, dreamed of taking, kissing, licking and nibbling.

Jesus. The way she looked at him, her green eyes wide, unblinking, her lips soft and pliant beneath his finger. He dipped his head, realized he had her positioned perfectly for a thorough kissing and without thought he did just that.

> He took her mouth in an almost angry possession, nothing gentle or tentative about it. He didn’t want gentle and searching, he needed it hot, he wanted it wild. Her lips parted for him immediately, allowing his tongue to search, seek and find hers and he tangled with it, the slick hot feel of her making him groan, shift against her so he could get closer.

His cock was a raging thing, already with a mind of its own just with one kiss and he nudged his erection against her. The slinky feel of her dress against his jeans, his entire body nearly did him in. She was soft, her small breasts nuzzled against his chest, her fragrant skin calling to him, and when she wound her arms around his neck in a sort of surrender, triumph surged through him.

Tugging harder on her hair, he deepened the kiss, barely allowing her to breathe. He just took and took, his tongue dancing with her tongue, his teeth nipping at her plush lower lip, his hand cupping her cheek. She whimpered, the sound small and needy deep in her throat, and he softened his approach, his tongue bathing the spot where he nipped her and she sighed.

They were in the middle of a nightclub, and he had her slammed against a wall like some sort of sex fiend. Even in his wildest days, he’d never made a true spectacle of himself.

Well, he took that back. He’d made a spectacle of himself but never in such a sexual manner and certainly never while making out with someone else. Definitely never with a woman.

He hadn’t been with a woman in years. Had forgotten their sweet taste, their whisper soft skin and the way they smelled. No one smelled like Michaela. Innocence and sweetness and sex, such a complex mix, multi-layered.

Austin wanted to peel each of her layers back, reveal her bit by bit, until all that remained was the real her. He sensed something bubbled just beneath her surface. She had secrets, things she’d never shared with him and she’d shared a lot.

He wanted to know them. He wanted her complete trust so she was comfortable enough to admit what she wanted. Needed.

And he was more than willing to give it to her.

“Austin.” His name was a benediction dropping from her lips and he paused, savoring the sensation of her mouth moving against his as she spoke. “What are you doing?”

“I thought it was obvious.” He kissed her ear, the side of her neck, licking her, tasting salt and sweet skin.

She gave a sound of frustration and tried to shove at his shoulders, but he wouldn’t move. He smiled against her throat, continued to kiss her there, and her hands curled in his hair, bringing him closer.

“You should stop.” Her protest was weak and he lifted his head, studied her carefully. Her skin was flushed, her lips swollen and she licked at them, the sight of her little pink tongue making him release a shuddering breath.

Michaela had so much power over him, and she didn’t realize it. Just looking at her made him weak, ready to give in to anything she wanted from him. If it meant she wanted him to stop, of course he would stop.

But hell, he didn’t want to.

“I don’t think you want me to stop.” He kept his voice low, even, didn’t want to push or scare her. She studied him. He saw her visibly swallow and, unable to resist, he touched her mouth, found it damp, sinking beneath his touch and when she swiped the tip with her tongue, he groaned.

“You like boys,” she whispered and he laughed, he couldn’t help it he was surprised by her statement. Her expression told him she didn’t appreciate his reaction, and he sobered immediately.

“Not always, Michaela. I like you.” He leaned in, this time going with gentle and the kiss they shared was exquisite, a connection of lips that made his skin sizzle, his entire body ache for more of her.

“We’re friends, we live together. This complicates things.” She released her hold on him, waved her hand around.

“It doesn’t have to. Not if we don’t let it.” He meant that though he wasn’t quite sure how they’d make it work. It could get very complicated very quickly. Was he ready for that?