Page 18 of Sweet Surrender
She opened the door but he was right behind her, raising his arm above her head and easily batting the door closed, caging her in.
“Get out of my office,” she said, her breathing ragged.
“Why do you keep chasing women away from me?” He lowered his voice until it was a gentle rumble and it affected her as though he’d whispered right in her ear. Heat pooled low in her belly as he stepped closer. Muscular, lethal grace coiled and ready to strike but she wouldn’t be intimidated by him, wouldn’t show weakness.
“Get. Out.”
“Make me,” he growled.
It was dangerous being this close to him. She felt perfectly safe around him, but her body was thrumming with anticipation, and she wasn’t sure what would happen next.I know what I want to happen next,her vagina piped up. She reached up to grip his bicep, whether to draw him closer or push him away she couldn’t say but he was quicker. His hand snapped out, circling her wrist, his thumb sliding over her pulse pounding away beneath her skin.
He pulled her to him, her palm flattened over his chest, the muscle bunching under her touch, reaching for her. Her eyes drifted over his face, his eyes heated, probing her and they stayed like that for the longest time. Her feeling the steady beat of his heart, him stroking the pulse in her wrist, tingles branching out from where his skin caressed hers.
Tension hummed between them. She couldn’t explain what was happening, it was like they were stuck in a crazy game of chicken. Neither of them willing to make the first move and strike but neither willing to back down.
His warm, sweet breath fanned across her face like a lover’s caress, her mouth drying at the intensity in his eyes. Her tongue swiped across her lips and his eyes followed the action.
His head dipped.
Yes…
No!
She ducked her head away, his breath trekking over her ear.Shit.
They both froze.
For the first time in her life, she was too scared to look at him. He’d tried to kiss her, she’d ducked away and rejected him. She swallowed hard and forced herself to look at him. His eyes which had been so warm and inviting became cold, lifeless and so familiar to her that nausea churned in her stomach. She was suddenly transported back to that night in his bedroom all those years ago. The hurt flooded her all over again.
His eyes slammed shut, squeezing tightly. “Shit, I’ve had too much to drink,” he muttered.
“It’s fine,” she whispered.
Then he was wrenching himself away and yanking the office door open. The laughter, music and clinking glasses rushed in, bringing her back to reality. Kayleigh called to her for help, but she was too shocked to react.
Beau had tried to kiss her.
She had nearly let him. What did any of it mean? She had never let anyone be that close to kissing her, not since…
“Taylor!” Kayleigh called again. A glass smashed and snapped Taylor out of her haze. Hurrying into the bar, she pushed her thoughts away, dismissing the incident. She walked past Christy and Justine who looked pretty pleased with themselves.
“Did he give you a tongue lashing?” Justine smirked.
“Yeah, or did you just want him to?” Christy added, and they cackled like the evil banshees they were. Taylor flipped them off and then threw herself into work. She didn’t see Beau again for the rest of the evening.
She closed up the bar at the end of the night, not even feeling proud of how well they’d done tonight. She just wanted to curl up in bed and forget the evening had ever happened.
Make me…
Beau’s words trampled through her thoughts again. She shook herself and headed to her cabin, glancing across at Beau’s like she did every night. Only now it didn’t hold comfort, it held questions.
She unlocked her door and went inside, breathing a sigh of relief when she found the cabin empty and her doormat free oflovenotes. She slid both bolts into place and put the kettle on to boil, then grabbed the squirrel food. She would feed them now as she didn’t plan on being out of bed until tomorrow afternoon at the earliest.
She unlocked the back door, flicking on the porch light and stepped out onto the deck. Something on the ground caught her eyes. She looked down and her breath snagged in her throat. The food fell from her grasp, scattering everywhere. She opened her mouth and screamed.
Chapter 6
Beau had gone back to his cabin and straight to bed, wanting to put the whole evening behind him. His pride was stinging so much from Taylor’s rejection that it even followed him into sleep. He dreamed that he and Taylor were in a boxing ring, gloves up and ready to rumble only he was his teenage self, his insecurities clearly at the forefront of his mind. When the bell dinged to start the round, she knocked him out with one punch.
