Page 19 of Wild Promise

But it was hard to feel bad about it when she was kissing me back.

And kissing her…fuck, it was like jumping off a cliff. No hesitation. No brakes. Just free fall.

I plunged headfirst, hoping she’d catch me, and when our lips crashed together in a rush of sensation, I prayed it would never end. Her lips parted beneath mine with a soft gasp, welcoming me in. My tongue slid against hers, and she melted against me with this tiny whimper that damn near stopped my heart.

Fuck. That sound.

Sexiest thing ever.

It tore through me, burning from my mouth straight down to my toes. My pulse hammered. My knees felt weak. My cock ached so hard it bordered on painful.

One little sound and I was fucking ruined. Nothing had ever felt like this. No party. No hookup. No adrenaline rush or reckless dare.

How had I gone a whole year pretending I didn’t want this? Pretending I wanted anything other than her?

“Do you mind?” A sharp voice sliced through the haze.

Stunned, I eased back from Melina to find Becky glaring at us from a few feet away, arms crossed and lips curled in disgust.

Right. She was still here. Honestly, with my body humming the way it was, I couldn’t really say I gave a shit.

But Melina did.

She jerked backward with a startled sound, fingers flying to her lips while her wide eyes stayed locked on my mouth like she couldn’t believe what had just happened, either.

“Whatever,” Becky snapped. “Good luck, Melina. With Noma and with him. You need it if you think he wants anything more than what’s up your skirt.”

She shoved past us, slamming her shoulder into me as she squeezed out the crowded doorway.

“Damn,” Melina murmured, her fingers still grazing her lips. “That was…”

“Even fucking better than I remembered,” I growled, edging her backward into the room and closing the door behind me.

Her breath hitched. “What are you doing?”

“Giving us some privacy, since we haven’t had any in over a year.”

“Zane.” She shook her head, backing farther away from me. “We don’t need privacy. I have work to do.”

When her hip hit the edge of the desk, she leaned into it like she needed the support to stay upright and placed her latte on top of the mess of papers.

“Can we at least talk? I promise to make it short and to keep my lips to myself.” That promise might kill me, but it was one I intended to keep. My sanity depended on it.

“There’s nothing to talk about.”

“Really?” I smirked. “You want to act like that didn’t just happen? Because I don’t think I’ll be able to forget it. Ever.”

Her mouth fell open.

But I rushed on before she could argue. “What about earlier, at the coffee shop? You going to brush that off, too?”

She winced. It was just a quick narrowing of her eyes and press of her lips between her teeth, but I caught it. I caught every damn thing about her.

“Melina, I was trying to tell you I was sor?—”

“Don’t you dare say it.” She cut me off with a hiss. “Don’t say that stupid fucking word.”

“Okay.” I held up my hands in surrender. Her vehemence caught me off guard, but pushing my luck seemed like a bad idea. Especially when she looked so damn delectable with her flushed cheeks and kiss-swollen mouth.