Page 34 of High Water

“How do you know what floor I’m on?” She inhales sharply when she sees the number light up.

“It’s my job.” I let her drop to her feet again once the doors shut and the elevator starts to move.

“You’re as bad as Levi!” She lunges to hit a different button, but I put my body between her and the panel.

“Nah. I might be worse.” I take two steps forward, and then a third that has her pinned up against the back of the elevator.

“This won’t work.” She glares up at me, folding her arms over her chest. “I can just leave the room as soon as you’re gone.”

“Then I guess I’ll be staying the night after all.” I place my palm on the panel above her head, and I can see the way her eyes flicker with interest at our proximity.

“Absolutely not.”

“I don’t want to see you do something you’ll regret tomorrow because you’re pissed off at me tonight.”

“My decisions have absolutely nothing to do with you.”

The hell they don’t.

“You running into Ledger’s arms right after I turned you down? It’s hard to believe those aren’t related.”

“Well, believe it.” She lifts one perfectly arched brow and lets out a frustrated sigh. “Do you hear yourself? You assume you’re the center of my plans tonight, when in reality, anyone could have done just as well. Like I said, I’m just trying to fill a blank space so I can move on to better things.”

“You asked me to come up. So you’ll forgive me for thinking it was me you were after.”

“You snatched me away from Carson and told me you didn’t want to see me with anyone else.” Her eyes flash with fresh understanding and lift to meet mine, hardened by whatever thoughts she’s having. “Is that what this is? You don’t want me, but no one else can have me either?”

The elevator dings and the doors open. She takes the opportunity to duck under my arm and rush through them, speed walking her way to her room. I’m on her heels in rapid time, though, leaning against the doorframe as she works to find her key. I’m trying to find my own calm. The two of us have always fed off each other’s energy, and right now, we’re heading for something explosive if I can’t bring the temperature down.

“Jones. Can we just talk for a minute?”

“I told you, I’m done talking. Done dancing. And done with whatever this is we’re doing now. I have better things to do with my free time.” She rifles through her purse, not bothering to look up at me.

“If I hurt your feelings, that wasn’t my intention. You know you’re gorgeous. Any man on earth would be lucky⁠—”

She holds up her hand to stop me, her eyes piercing me with a warning.

“Stop! Oh my god. Please stop. Whatever this is, it’s worse. You don’t need to let me down easy. I heard your no loud and clear, and I moved on. Can’t you do the same?” She sucks in a sharp breath, and if I didn’t know better, I’d swear she was holding back tears. “Just quit hovering around and leave me alone! God! Where is this infernal fucking key!” She shakes her purse again.

I reach into my pocket and withdraw a copy of her key, sliding it over the keycard reader until it lights up green. The lock clicking loudly in the otherwise quiet hallway. Her eyes go wide as she looks at me.

“How do you have that?” Her brow descends. “No. Forget I asked. That’s a silly question. I know how you have it. My brothers just let you waltz right back in and give you access to everything. And you just walk around like you own the place.” She storms into her room, tossing her purse on the side table inside the suite. “Thinking you own me. Telling me what I can and can’t do tonight.” She heaves out another frustrated sigh and glares at me out of the corner of her eye as she slips out of her heels. She sinks three inches in the process, but she’s no less terrifying. “What was your plan anyway with that key? Just storm in on me having sex with someone? You know two can plan that game. I have access to all those keys and rooms too. I can wait until you’re hooking up with someone. Poised to finally get the fucking orgasm you desperately need to release all the stress, and I’ll just bust in and sit down and start telling her all about that time you got poison ivy on your ass from letting me⁠—”

I kiss her. I shouldn’t. And I shouldn’t haul her up into my arms and pin her against the wall. She nips me in response, her teeth digging into my lower lip until she almost draws blood. Right before she drags her lips over mine and kisses me back. Her legs wrap around me as I take our kiss deeper. She whimpers when I trail kisses down her throat, grazing her skin with my teeth before I nip her back. I grin against her skin as she rolls her hips to meet mine. She still likes that. Still likes me. Wants me against her better judgment. Which makes two of us.

I press another kiss to the slope where her neck meets her shoulder, digging my fingers into her ass before I force myself to tell her the truth.

“I want you. More than anything. But I need to make a confession before things go any further. I need you to hear me out.” I ease her down to the floor again, and her eyes search mine.

“Something that can’t wait until tomorrow?”

“No. You need to decide how you feel after. It’s something I don’t know if you can forgive.”

Her face falls, and she looks away. “If this is you telling me you’re leaving again⁠—”

“It’s not. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Then what?”