Page 33 of The Attraction

But what really threw me was those words in the elevator. They keep repeating in my head.

“You are off limits… and I will kill him.”

Those aren’t the words a man uses when speaking about a friend.

I open the door slowly to check that he is gone, and on the floor is a simple roast beef and salad sandwich. Picking it up and closing the door again, I’m mumbling to myself as I sit down on the floor, crossing my legs and leaning against my bed.

“Fuck, it’s like he can read my mind that I couldn’t eat a big meal tonight if I tried. What type of sorcery is this?” Taking the first bite of the sandwich makes my mouth water. There is some kind of relish on this that makes it so much more than a simple sandwich. “Well, whatever magic he has, I could get on board with this.”

I take my time trying to eat it all, but I can only manage half of it before my stomach starts saying no more.

My shower doesn’t help me find the answers I need, and I know there is only one way to find out. I should cover up before I go out there, but I’m not sure how long this courage is going to remain.

I fling the door open, and as soon as I take two steps out of my room, he is there walking down the hallway toward me. He’s still in his work clothes but with bare feet, sleeves rolled up on his shirt that is pulled from his pants, and he is in the middle of undoing the buttons, probably on his way to his room to shower.

Damn, this man has a chest that I would like to lick like a popsicle.

Focus, Harper! Words, use them.

“Harper, what’s wrong?” He is moving toward me now with speed.

“Stop.” I put my hand up because I can’t let him touch me again. It does some weird shit to my head.

Doing as I ask, he is only about five footsteps from me, but it’s enough for me to think… barely.

“Why did you say that?” My voice is demanding, and I can feel my body tensing up the moment I ask. Because I don’t know if I want to know the answer.

“Say what?” is all he replies. His arms are hanging at his sides, but I can see his hands starting to form fists.

“Don’t do that. You know what I mean. The threat to Ashton.” But instead of keeping the distance I thought I wanted, it’s me marching those five steps to him and poking my finger into his bare chest before he can answer me. “Why am I off limits?” I question him, and I can feel the heavy breathing coming from him now that I’m that close to his face, and his chest is heaving up and down under my hand that is now pressed flat on his chest. “Tell me, Forrest, tell me… the real… fucking… reason.” Now I can feel my own heart hammering against my chest, and the heat from his body is running all over me too.

“You don’t want that answer,” he growls at me.

“Tell me!” I yell, and he cracks and can’t hold back any longer.

Grabbing me around the waist, he pushes me back against the wall, his body pressed against mine but not so hard it hurts. Enough pressure that he has my attention as he makes me understand where he stands.

“You are mine, and I protect what’s mine.” His voice is pure sex, and no matter what either of us think we want from each other, it doesn’t matter.

Because right now, in this moment… we both want this…needthis.

Neither of us says a word, our actions are all the permission we need.

The moment our lips touch, I know I’m going to regret this, but that’ll be tomorrow’s problem.

Tonight is all about this fantasy.

ChapterEight

FORREST

Every rule I gave myself, every barrier I tried to put up, is crumbling before me. All because of this feisty woman who just won’t back down.

If I thought seeing her last night, so vulnerable, was a struggle to walk away from, then looking at her right now full of fight, I know I’m not going anywhere.

This fire that is running through her veins is so damn sexy.

I want her to see what I see between us. We are something more than just a night of sex, but she’s not there yet, and nothing I say will make her see it. So, I’m going to give her this small win in her mind, in the push-and-shove battle we are having over the sexual tension in the room.

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