Page 33 of Calling a Cease-Fire

He pulled me away from the railing and lifted me by my waist. In a few steps, he was sitting me down on the back of one of the sofas and sandwiching himself between my thighs. Before I could take my next breath, his mouth was slanted over mine in a demanding, punishing kiss.

We fought for dominance, just like we did that night when I was drunk. But this time, I was completely sober. And desperate for this man I could barely stand.

I nipped hard at his lower lip, and in return, he yanked me closer to the edge of the sofa, pressing himself harder into me. He swallowed down my moans as the slight touch made my pussy throb.

I moved my hands into his hair, gripping the ends with my fists and holding him tight to me. Our tongues continued to duel, fighting for control. Neither of us were willing to give in or back down. I hooked my legs around him and moved my hips, seeking more friction. His hand tangled in my hair. I’d left it down, curled in loose waves, and he tugged, breaking the kiss. Our breaths came in short pants as we stared at each other.

Finally, he yanked my head back a bit more, lowering his lips to my neck and biting the sensitive skin there. “Do you know how badly I want to watch you fall apart from my touch? To give in completely to me? Have you completely at my mercy?”

“Or I’ll just take what I need.”

He pulled back to look down at me. “I don’t think you would.” A cavalier smile played across his lips. “I mean, surely you would try, but as tough as you come off, you become so soft whenever I touch you.” His lips found my neck again and he sucked hard, eliciting a hiss from me.

“Don’t get too cocky.” I rotated my hips, rubbing the juncture of my thighs against him, seeking his hardness. Like he could read my mind, he shifted himself, letting me feel him. “Fuck,” I breathed out. Through his jeans, I could already tell he was incredibly long and thick. Maybe he was allowed to be cocky with that thing in his pants.

I yanked him back down to my mouth, desperate to feel his lips again. To feel so much more. Examine every inch of him with my tongue. Feel the hard planes of his chest under my hands.

But, damn it, I couldn’t. What we were doing was dangerous. And wrong.

I broke the kiss, and he stared at me in surprise, realization slowly taking over his expression.

“Zack…” I whispered the warning, not ready to utter the rest of the words I knew I needed to say.

His jaw locked. “Why?”

Just one word, paired with the hurt and sting of rejection staring back at me… It was almost too much. I hated it. But it was better to rip the Band-Aid off now than take things too far and not be able to come back from it.

He stepped back and I let my feet fall back to the floor.

“It’s just not a good idea, Zack.” I swallowed, wishing I didn’t have to do the right thing. But my precious few friendships meant too much to me to mess them up. “Nicole obviously likes you, and if I slept with you just for fun, she’d be hurt. But besides that, I can’t take the risk of you getting attached. I don’t do attachment. And then everyone would blame me for hurting you.”

He raised a brow, and I waited for him to deny it. But he didn’t.

“I’ve always had a strict rule about not hooking up with guys I work with or within my friend group,” I continued. “It makes everything messy.”

He was quiet, staring at me like he was trying to see the lie beneath my words. But there wasn’t one.

I shifted uncomfortably. “Did you still want to hit the rage room tonight?” For some unexplainable reason, I was praying he wouldn’t say no.

His jaw ticked, and the only response I got was a simple nod.

Straightening my clothes, I made my way toward the stairs, glancing back when I didn’t sense him following me. The longing in his eyes was almost too much for me to bear.

I forced my feet to move, deathly afraid that if I stayed there a minute longer, I would say screw it and give in to this insane attraction between us.

And I was one hundred percent sure that would end horribly.

Chapter Thirteen

ZACK

What the fuck was I thinking? I’d been so good at making sure I didn’t step over that line. It was probably Adam getting in my head the other day, talking about if I wanted to try something with Mia, he’d be supportive. But this was a good reminder. Mia wasn’t interested in trying anything besides a quick fuck. I had to admit that sounded slightly tempting, but she was also probably right—I would want more. So much more.

I wanted all of her. Every single fucking thorn and the beautiful flower that I suspected lay beneath. But was I willing to risk being wrong?

I glanced sideways at her as I pulled the Jeep to a stop at the light. I was surprised she hadn’t asked if she could drive again. Her slightly curly hair was draped over one shoulder, the side of her neck, specifically the slight mark on her skin, visible to me. I couldn’t stop a self-satisfied grin from forming on my lips.

I was an asshole, but something about leaving my mark on her made me happier than it should. Also, if I was being honest, the fact that she cancelled her date to be with me tonight made me just as happy.