Page 14 of Grift

When she doesn’t say anything, I draw closer to her ear. “Jessica, answer me.”

“I understand.”

“Do you want me to kiss you?”

“I don’t know,” she whispers softly.

Fair enough. But when I go to take a step back, her hand comes up fast and her fingers tangle in my jacket. The pulse starts hammering in my throat as my blood heats.

“Yes,” it sounds like a question. But it’s enough, for now.

The one thing I’ve wanted all night is to touch her.

I slide a hand down along the silken material of that dress, feeling its sleekness beneath my palm and the taut lines of her body beneath that. Possessively grabbing her hip, I pull her to me slowly until every inch of our bodies connect. Her eyes are open wide, pupils and the light gray deepening to silver as our gazes lock. Something starts, like a humming, like a whirlwind, in my chest. It’s not a sound, but a sensation, a feeling I can’t name.

Leaning down, I capture her lips with mine. Soft, warm, she tastes like honey and cinnamon. A long moment passes and then she leans into me, kissing me back. Slowly her arms loop around my neck, and I can feel her yielding and molding against my body. Fuck.

With tremendous regret, I step back and disentangle myself from that perfect body.

My body is quickly getting messages that this night is going to end differently. I’m going to have to find another plan to relieve that stress.

Her face is flushed, her breaths coming in short, quick gasps. I like her looking that way.

But for now, I need to leave this.

“We probably shouldn’t have done that.” Her fingers brush at her lips, slightly reddened by the kiss. I like the thought of leaving a small mark on her that she’ll feel later.

She’s right. It’s a terrible idea. Temptation upon temptation, without resolution. A perfect metaphor for the night. For the woman. For the situation.

There’s no easy answer, no simple way to make all of this go away.

I settle for one last touch, tracing a finger across her cheek. “I protect what’s mine. Want something? Just ask.”

And then I walk out of the gallery and the casino, out into the night air once again to see if I can clear my head.

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