Page 17 of Ranger's Secret

"Hey." I close the distance between us, my hands finding her shoulders. "Talk to me. What’s wrong?"

"Everything," she chokes out. "I'm the worst friend in the world. I promised Maya I'd never do this, and here I am, wanting things I have no right to want. Feeling things I swore I wouldn't feel."

The pain in her voice guts me. This fierce woman is falling apart in front of me, and it's because of what's between us. Because of choices I've forced her to make.

"Look at me." I tip her chin up with my fingers. "You're not a bad friend."

"Yes, I am. You don't understand. Maya told me, in high school, girls would pretend to be her friend just to get close to you. It hurt her so badly. She made me promise on our first night as roommates that I'd never, and I swore I wouldn't."

The guilt in her voice is like a knife to my chest. I've been so focused on my own need to claim her that I forgot what this costs her.

"I didn’t plan on falling for you. I fought it. But it still happened,” I admit.

She goes very still, then lets out a bitter laugh. "You didn't fall for me, Jagger. Let's not pretend this is some grand love story. You just want to fuck me."

The accusation hangs between us. She's building her walls back up, trying to make this smaller than it is.

"Is that what you think? You think this is just about getting you into bed?"

"Isn't it?" Her chin lifts. "You've been chasing me, trying to get revenge on me, threatening my career. That's not love, that's obsession."

"You're right. It is obsession." I don't back down from the accusation. "But it's a lot more than just wanting to fuck you, kitten."

Her eyes flash. "I told you not to call me that."

"Why? Because it reminds you that you want this too? That you've been thinking about me just as much as I've been thinking about you?"

Something snaps inside me. All this talking, all this back and forth, when what we both want is right here between us.

I don't give her time to think. Don't give her time to build more walls or find more reasons to run.

I haul her against me, one hand gripping her ass, the other tangled in her hair. Then I kiss her. No, Itake her. Staking my claim.

She goes rigid for half a second, hands pushing against my chest in token resistance. But then she melts into me with a soft sound that goes straight to my cock. Her fingers twist in my shirt, pulling me closer even as she tries to fight what's happening.

I back her against the wall, my body caging her in, and she arches into me like she can't help herself.

"Let go," I growl against her mouth, my hands sliding down to her hips. "Stop fighting this. You want me as much as I want you."

"Jagger," she starts to protest, but I cut her off with another kiss, deeper this time, my tongue sliding against hers until she makes that sound again.

Her resistance crumbles. She kisses me back with everything she has.

"That's it, kitten," I groan against her lips. "Stop thinking. Stop feeling guilty. This is just you and me."

My hands find the hem of her sweater, sliding underneath to touch warm, soft skin. She gasps as her back arches off the wall. I take advantage, pushing the fabric up and over her head, tossing it on the floor.

I brush my thumbs over her nipples through the fabric, feeling them harden under my touch.

"You're so fucking beautiful," I growl as I roll her nipples between my fingers.

My hands slide down to the button on her jeans, and she doesn't stop me. I pop the button and drag the zipper down slowly, watching her face as I slip my hand inside her panties. The moment my fingers find her, we both groan.

"Fuck. You're soaked. Exactly as wet as I imagined." I stroke her folds, feeling how ready she is. "I can't believe you kept this from me."

She moans, her hips bucking into my touch as I explore her.

"That's it, kitten. Let me feel how much you want this."

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