Page 34 of Forgetting the Enemy
“Damn, Zaira, I texted him. Give him a fucking chance to respond,” he argues. Then his phone beeps. Ricco looks at it, and a sigh of relief washes over his face. He reaches for the doorknob, turns it, and opens the door. “You can go in now.”
“See. That wasn’t so hard, now was it?” I say, winking at him as I sashay into Michael’s office.
As I close the door behind me, Michael speaks first. “What is it, Zaira? I’m busy.”
His abruptness pisses me off. I realize, without being told, Michael is a powerful man. He has important matters to attend to, but if I am to become his wife, then he will put me first. “Michael, I will not be dismissed,” I say.
“What are you talking about?”
“Just now, out at the pool. I was trying to have a conversation with you, and when you didn’t want to talk anymore, you left, thus dismissing something I wanted.”
“Zaira, really, can’t this wait? I told you. I’m—”
“Yes, Michael. I know you’re busy, but I think before any more time passes, we need to lay down some ground rules.”
“Rules?”
“Yes. I have no recollection of how things were between us before I got hurt, but I sure as hell know how I want them to be going forward.”
He smirks. Does he find this amusing? ’Cause Lord knows, I’m deadly serious. “If we are to be married, you will treat me at all times like your fiancée. This hot-and-cold shit will not fly with me!”
“What are you talking about?” he replies defensively.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about. Last night, you wanted me. I felt it, and you know it. Today, besides that little performance in front of my brother, you’ve been cold and distant. I will not marry a man who treats me that way!”
“Oh really, and what about the fact that you were gonna marry—” He stops short and doesn’t utter another word.
“What did you say?” I ask.
“Nothing.”
“The fact I was gonna marry who, Michael?”
“Nothing. You weren’t going to marry anyone. You’ve only been engaged to me,” he says quickly.
I know there is more to this, but I decide to let it rest for now. There is something he’s not telling me, but it is not the reason I came barging into his office. I have more rules. “I trust you, and I believe you when you tell me we are engaged. So start treating me like the woman you love and stop holding back!”
He stands from his chair and stalks toward me. When he approaches, he takes my left hand and holds it behind my back. My right hand goes up to his shoulder to steady myself as he backs me against his office door. As he pushes his body into mine, the heat I felt from last night returns. The chemistry between us is pulsing, and I can’t understand why he is fighting it.
He leans in close, bringing his lips to my neck. He places featherlike kisses along my neck and stops at my ear. He whispers, “Is this what you want, Zaira?”
“Yes,” I whisper back.
“Do you want me to bend you over that desk over there and fuck you until you’re screaming my name?” he asks as he nuzzles my ear.
“Oh God, yes,” I beg
“How bad do you want me, Zaira?”
“I don’t know… I just want you.”
He moves away from my neck and looks into my eyes, regarding me warily. He’s got to feel it too, the need and the want that pulses through my body. My hand is still braced on his shoulder. I move it up to around his neck and pull him closer to me. “Kiss me, Michael,” I demand as I pull his lips toward mine.
Just as our lips are about to touch, he pushes against me and pulls back. Turning his back toward me, he says, “Get out, Zaira.”
“But, Michael—”
“I said get out!” he yells.
