Page 49 of To Crave Darkly
“Well, that’s clearly a fucking lie.”
Jasper pinched the bridge of his nose. “Look. Whatever this is between you and me is never going to happen.”
“You’ve decided that have you?” I spat.
He dropped his hands and his eyes burned straight through me, like he was seeing more than just me. Like he was seeing into my soul.
Maybe it was shitty of me to push him, but he was clearly not giving me the whole picture. I hated that I still wanted him, that I was attracted to him, that my body craved him in a way I had yet to understand. That need for him hadn’t gone away. Even now, when I was royally fucking pissed at him, I still wanted his hands on my body, his lips pressed against mine. I wanted to know what he felt like inside me.
Jasper clenched his jaw. “Lori, I can’t… I can’t be what you want me to be. I won’t.”
My jaw dropped in angry disbelief. “What does that even mean? What’s really going on here Jasper? Why all the hesitation about even considering looking at whatever this is between us?”
“There isnothingbetween us,” he growled.
“That’s bullshit and you know it!”
With a deliberate slowness, he rose from the edge of the table. “Miss Monroe, do not mistake me for a man who tolerates insubordination.”
I didn’t like his threatening tone, or the way he used my surname, like the formality was going to put some kind of barrier between us. So, of course, I went on the offensive and lashed out like an angry child.
“What are you going to do about it? Punish me?”
“Very funny.” He loomed over me, trying to intimidate me into submission. I don’t even think he realised he was doing it, but it made me want to do something stupid, like pull him closer and press my body against his.
“That’s not an answer,” I shot back at him with a challenging look.
“Fucking hell, Lori.” The muscles along his chiselled jaw pulsed, and he closed his eyes for a moment as if trying to gather some inner strength.
Fuck. This was dangerous.
I heard the little voice in my head whispering all those little warnings. This was a bad idea and I really should listen but… sometimes my selective hearing came into play.
“Are you saying you would punish me?” I asked, a teasing lilt to my voice. I tilted my head up closer to his and licked my lips, the tip of my tongue catching his lips. A warning growl rumbled from deep in his throat. I rested my palms on his chest, spreading my fingers across the firm wall of muscle. His hands found my waist and slowly slid down. It was like he couldn’t stop himself from touching me. “How much?”
Jasper’s body stiffened beneath my touch. Like he couldn’t decide whether to pull me closer or shove me away. He let out another warning. “Don’t push me.”
I was playing with fire. I knew this would go either one or two ways. He’d either give in or he’d run away. But I was too high on the chemistry between us to think clearly. I knew what I wanted, and I was going to fucking take it. Jasper was hanging on by a thread, all he needed was a little push.
“Or what?” I whispered against his lips.
Jasper’s control snapped. The words were barely out of my mouth before he let out a sinfully possessive noise and yanked me to him, kissing me hard.
Oh, God. Yes. I moaned. My fingers dug into his shirt and I clawed at him trying to pull him closer. I stumbled backwards until my back collided with the door behind me. His powerful thigh slid between my legs and his body pressed against me, pinning me against the wall. A hot shudder coursed through me with all the ferocity of a storm.
His mouth devoured mine as his hands slid under the hem of my shirt, searing hot trails across my fevered skin. He took my lower lip between his teeth and bit down harshly. I gasped at the sudden sting, but Jasper soothed the pain as he lightly sucked my lip. He thrust his tongue deep into my mouth and I sucked it like I would suck his cock if he’d let me. Dirty images filled my mind as I fumbled with his belt buckle. He was trying to get my trouser button open and oh fuck, oh yes –
Someone knocked on the door and I nearly fell to the floor as we both jerked in surprise.
“Yes?” Jasper called, his voice rough and gravelly.
“De Santis has sent for you.” The voice was deep and smooth, and I knew Alec was on the other side of the door whilst Jasper and I stared at each other, our chests heaving, bodies still pressed deliciously close.
“I’ll be there in a minute,” Jasper replied, clearing his throat. He pulled away from me and redid his belt buckle. His stoic expression fell back into place and I knew that any walls of his that I managed to crack were firmly back in place.
“I don’t deserve for you to treat me like shit just because you’ve got a problem with me,” I hissed. “Treat me the way I deserve to be treated or I’ll find a way to kick your arse.”
A fraction of a smile cracked his serious façade and it made my heart jump. “I’d like to see you try.”
