Page 26 of Wasted Lust

“No?” he asks, his eyes bright with mischief. He holds up both hands and wiggles his fingers again. “All ten fingers, Miss Aston. So I think you liked it more than you’d care to admit.”

He takes two steps forward, forcing me to take two steps backwards. I’d take more steps back—because he’s far too close to me—but I bump up against the closed closet door.

My heart starts to beat fast as he looks down at me. Races, actually. His hand presses up against my cheek as he leans down into my ear once again. “Sasha,” he says, still in that gruff whisper. “The people in my department call you a lethal weapon. So if you hated the kiss you’d have made good on that threat. In fact”—he laughs a little and this sends yet another chill through my body—”I was very surprised you even bothered to threaten me. If you’d really hated the kiss, you’d have dropped me right there in the hallway and walked off as I lay writhing on the ground. So let’s just stop with the pretenses, Miss Aston. And have a good time together tonight.”

His palm slides up and presses against the side of my neck. I gulp air as I try to calm my beating heart. But it’s too late. He’s got his hand over my throbbing artery, assessing my reaction. But just as quick as it appeared, it’s withdrawn. I’m just about to breathe again when he replaces his palm alongside my cheek.

“What are you doing?” I whisper, the panic starting to set in. I’m fearful that my body will start shaking from all this touching.

“Pushing my luck, Sasha.”

“Don’t,” I say, the panic finally coming through. I place both my hands on his chest and push him back. He sways a little from my demand, but only his upper body retreats. His feet stay firmly planted in the same space right in front of me.

“You don’t do intimacy?” he asks. His palm is still on my cheek. My push had no effect on that. And now it slides down my cheek until his thumb is lightly gripping my chin. I’m so shocked, so mesmerized by his stare and his forward actions that I freeze as his thumb gently caresses my lower lip. “I get it,” he says, his voice deep with desire, but controlled at the same time. “I’m taking you out of your comfort zone. But you’ve had yourself locked up here in this house all semester, Sasha. And I already told you. You’re safe with me.”

I suck in some air as his eyes shift from one side of my face to the other, trying to figure me out. “I don’t need you to save me.”

“Ah,” he breathes. “I never said I’d save you, Sasha. You’re in pretty deep, so I’m not even sure I can do that. It’s”—he stops talking, but his thumb is still doing a sweeping tender arc under my lip—”it’s a pretty complicated setup I have going right now.”

“With me?” I ask, feeling a slight panic as my heart beats faster.

“Well, some of this has to do with you. Obviously. But there’s a lot more going on here than you realize.”

“Why can’t you just leave me out of it? I don’t understand what you think I have that can help you. I admit I was filled with answers a long time ago, but most of what I know is outdated. Most of the people I had connections with are dead. And I swear to God, I have not seen or heard from Nick. I have not been involved in anything in a very long time.”

“I don’t need any of that, Sasha.” But then Jax’s lips are on mine. This time he’s got my chin, and his grip on it tightens, like he’s warning me not to pull away. His tongue sweeps between the seam of my lips and they part. I have a sinking feeling in my lower stomach, and I’m not sure if it’s dread from giving in or just the fact that I haven’t had sex in a very long time. Because there is no doubt in my mind right now—if he pushes, I will give in. One hand on the strap of my dress would have me begging him for more.

But he pulls back, ending the kiss. “You have the one thing I need, Sasha—Nick’s heart.”

Sasha’s hands are flat on my chest, pushing hard, sending me back a step. A moment later, the sting of a slap cracks across my face.

“Get out,” she growls. “I will not take part in this plot you have to capture Nick. I won’t be used like some thing.” Her blue eyes are burning bright with anger. But there’s something else underneath. Something I can’t quite place. “I said—”

“I heard you, Miss Aston,” I interrupt her again.

“And don’t think I will fall for those fake manners you have, either. Get the fuck out of my house or I will remove you myself.” She glares at me, daring me to challenge her threat.

I can’t stop the snicker that comes out. I mean, it’s a bad move, considering her state of mind at the moment. But holy fuck, that was hot, cute, and even though I know it will piss her off, I want to accept that challenge.

My face is stinging with another slap, followed by a leg sweep that sends me falling over sideways. And any other tough guy might be embarrassed by her success, but my snicker has turned into a full-fledged guffaw. Instead of getting up, I stay on the ground as I throw my head back to enjoy the moment.

“Why are you laughing?” she growls, standing over me with a stern look on her face. Her legs are spread wide, allowing me to get a good long look. She notices my gaze and steps back. “What the fuck?”

“Oh, God.” I laugh again. “I’m sorry,” I say, still chuckling. “Really, I apologize. You’re just so damn cute as the tough girl. And the dress, it’s very revealing—”

“I know, asshole. You picked it out for this reason.”

I laugh again and she puts her balled-up fists on her hips as she keeps her position of power. “I didn’t imagine myself on the floor with you giving me a peek, no. But I’m not complaining. Can I get up now? Or will you kick me when I’m down?”

She turns on her heel and walks further back into the house. It’s an invitation I can’t refuse. I’ve been wanting to get a look inside here for months.

But as soon as I’m on my feet she’s turned on her heel and headed back my way. I put a hand up to protect me from the possible slap, but she glides past and opens the front door. “Get out. I’m not going.”

I grab her wrist and kick the door closed with a slam. Her pulse is throbbing beneath my fingertips and she draws back, ready to put the walls up again.

I tug her towards me, making her crash into my chest, and then I spin us around and push her against the coat closet door, pinning both wrists to the wall on either side of her hips.

“Every time I take a breath, Sasha Aston, you surprise me.”