THE
FORBIDDEN by Jodi Ellen Malpas
“Thank
you for your help,” I say quietly, studying him, definitely detecting that he’s
deep in thought. Don’t ask, don’t
ask, don’t ask. I need to get back into my apartment without engaging
with him, which could prove tricky when he’s blocking the doorway and looking
like he has no intention of shifting to let me in.
“Annie,” he breathes. “I’m struggling so badly.”
“I’m not doing this.” I swallow, pushing my way past him. He grabs
me by the top of my arm and holds me in place. “Let me go, Jack.”
“I’ve already told you I can’t do that. Annie, I’m drowning here.
I’m going out of my mind, and the more time I spend with you the fucking worse
it’s getting. Listening to you, talking to you, sharing a passion with you that
goes way beyond the amazing time we
had in bed together.”
“You have to forget!” I yell, knowing anger is the only way
forward. Be angry with him. Let it dominate me and rule me, because the
alternative scares me to fucking death.
He pushes me into the hall and slams the door behind us, forcing me
to back up. “No,” he says, straight and even. “No,” he repeats, moving one more
step forward, except this time I don’t retreat. Because I can’t. Because he has
me locked in place with those grey eyes, and now they’re back to their full
glory. Sparkling, even if it’s with anger. He reaches for his shirt and starts
unbuttoning it before shrugging it off and throwing it to the floor, revealing
the chest that’s haunting me.
I quickly look down at the pile of material, my mind reeling. His chest.
His perfect damn chest. “What are you doing?”
“I have no fucking idea.” He reaches for me and slides a hand
around my neck, pulling me to him. Our chests meet, and my determination to
repel him vanishes under our connection. Wrongs turn into rights. Conflict
turns into craving.
“I can’t get you out of my head, Annie.” His forehead meets mine,
his palm massaging away the tightness in my neck muscles, softening me up until
I relax in his hold. “I want you all over again, and I can’t even find the will
to worry about how much more that’ll make me want you.” He breathes down on me.
“I’ve played that night on repeat. I’ve dreamed of holding you in my arms
again. I’ve craved the sound of your voice, the feel of your touch, the
softness of your lips on mine. I know I shouldn’t want you. But I do. Nothing
has ever made me feel this insane with need. Nothing has taken up so much space
in my head. I can’t fucking help it, Annie.” His grey gaze sinks into me, my
heart steadying to an even thrum. His head starts to shake mildly, his splayed
hand moving up to the back of my head and fisting my hair. “I don’t want to
help it,” he growls. “I want you. I don’t care how wrong it is.” His clenched
fist tightens, gripping my hair harshly. “I know I’ve been on your mind since I
fucked you every which way in that hotel room. Stop denying it. Don’t insult me
and tell me you don’t crave that amazing feeling all over again. I can see it
in your eyes every damn time I look into them. You. Want. Me.”
It’s me who moves in first. All me. I lunge forward and smash my
lips to his, the magnetic force winning. His words winning. Jack winning. My
heart winning. I coax his mouth open with hard, hungry kisses. I’ve lost my
mind to a craving too powerful to fight off. And, like Jack, I don’t care how
wrong it is.
Lost.
Yet as he walks me backward until my back slams into the wall, I
feel found again.
I cry out, and Jack moans. We’re clumsy and desperate. He’s pushing
me up the wall with the force of his kiss, then he’s rolling away, taking me
with him until it’s his back slamming into the wall. It’s the elevator all over
again. The atmosphere is sizzling. I’m on fire. He scoops me up, pinning me to
him, and carries me into my bedroom. I focus on him. Only him and the return of
feelings that I’ve fantasized about since that unforgettable night. All the
guilt is abandoning me, and I let it, unprepared to let anything stop me from
taking the forbidden.
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