Page 52 of Keep Your Guard Up
“W-why would it be a problem?” Curse my inconveniently timed voice cracks. Apparently, I was hitting puberty again—at least that would explain my sudden spike in libido.
“Just wasn’t sure if you needed more time to …cool off,” he replied, though his tone told me he knew I’d need another century to be able to cool off.
“I’m plenty cooled off, thank you.”Fake it ’til you make it, right?“Cool as a cucumber.”
“That so?”
“Sure is. Sorry if your ego was expecting me to be a puddle on the floor after your little performance earlier.”
His ego had been right on the money with that one. I’d hidden out in the office trying to think about anything but jumping Chance Riordan’s bones for … well, three hours now.
“Pity,” was all he said.
“Pity?”
“Yeah. Pity.” He turned to face me, that bored tone no match for the heat burning in his gaze. “Was happy to offer some help …coolingoff. But it appears my services are not required.”
Every thought in my brain was alight with a fire I had no control over.
“It seems I’m not the one in need of services, Riordan,” I said, standing from my chair and folding my arms over my chest. His eyes flickered to the movement. “It seemsyou’rethe one still standing in my office in nothing but a towel.”
“Ouroffice,” he corrected, closing distance towards me.
I scrambled backwards until I was halfway leaning over my desk.
“Get dressed, Riordan. JJ brings enough unwanted nudity into this place.” Every word came out breathier than the last.
He was close to me; I could feel his warmth. Like a burning fire in the yard on a cold winter night. It irked me how homely, howsafeit felt.
He’s a fighter — he’s anything but safe.
“Stop staring at the towel around my waist. Look me in the eyes and tell me to back down and I will, Mari.”
Hearing his deep voice say my name was another form of heaven. Or torture because I knew I couldn’t have this man.
He’s a fighter.
“Come on, Sunny. Look at me.” He pushed.
I looked up.
Rookie mistake.
I was swimming, or floating, or drowning. Which one? I had no idea. I was surrounded by that eternal expanse of balmy blue liquid. It was too warm to be a pool, and too calm to be an ocean.
It washim.
It was passion and lust andhim.
“Well?” he asked, brows raised, hands loosely by his sides.
“Huh?”
The corners of his lips rose, and he stepped in a touch farther. “I’m waiting for you to tell me to back down, Sunny.” His fingers brushed my cheek as he tucked a stray curl out of my face. “Say the word and I’ll stop.”
“And what if I don’t want you to stop?” I breathed.
A wicked, feral grin erupted across his face one second. The next, my backside was in his hands and my feet off the floor.
