Forbidden Fantasies Bundle(142)

“Ouch,” he yelled. He’d forgotten that she retained her grip on his hair. “Stop that. I can explain.”

“I’m listening,” she said through gritted teeth.

Jed looked down at her. He’d never imagined she could get this angry. Her eyes had narrowed to slits, and they’d deepened to the color of dark toffee. He was amazed by her, delighted with her. Each new layer that he discovered only drew him in deeper.

“Well?” she bit out.

Explain, he reminded himself. Explain why he hadn’t told her immediately that he was Ethan Blair. Why he’d seduced her as another man.

Why he wanted to seduce her again right now. But he’d promised himself that he’d keep his distance. He’d even convinced himself that this time he’d be able to keep his word. But he wasn’t going to be able to, he now realized.

“Okay, I’ll explain it for you then,” she said.

He could feel the fury radiating through her, from her. Panic bubbled up in him. He was going to lose her over this. More than that, he deserved to lose her over this.

“You used me. I thought it couldn’t be true—but it is. What was I? Just something that you were amusing yourself with while you were figuring out a way to clear your name? Well, you’ve had your fun. Now leave me alone.”

“No.” The bubbles of panic had transformed into a steady stream. He wasn’t going to leave her alone. He couldn’t.

“I thought you were different from Hadley Richards, but you’re not. You’re just like him.”

Fury rose up, slapping him just as hard as her fist had. Releasing her wrists, he grabbed her shoulders and gave her a quick, impatient shake. “I’m not Hadley Richards.”

He had to make her understand. “Last night—I never should have returned to the Blue Pepper. I never should have asked you to follow me. I told myself that I came back for the envelope Gage had left with you. But that was a lie. I came back because I wanted to see you again. I’d promised myself that I wouldn’t, that I couldn’t, until I’d cleared my name. That’s why I—Jed—didn’t call you. And then when I saw you last night at the Blue Pepper…”

She said nothing, but she wasn’t struggling anymore. She was listening. Some of the panic eased. He drew in a deep breath and tried to push down the other emotions flooding him. “Last night at the hotel, I know that I should have told you I was Jed. I convinced myself that I was protecting you, that it was much better that you didn’t know the truth. I—” He broke off and dragged in another breath. “Hell, I can’t do this. I can’t even explain it to myself. I just know that I had to make love to you again.” He gave her another little shake. “I can’t be in the same room with you without wanting you. Without wanting this.”

He crushed his mouth to hers.



SHE’D WANTED THIS. Even when she’d punched him, she hadn’t stopped wanting this heat that threatened to consume her. Pride and anger, even logic, vanished in the tangle of needs and desires that only he could ignite in her. Greed filled her. Threading her fingers through his hair, she held on, wanting more as his mouth raced down her throat, teeth scraping, tongue soothing.

Oh yes, she’d wanted this fever in her blood that only he could ignite. His hands—those hard, lethal hands—tore at the snap of her jeans and dragged them down her legs. And she wanted the hunger—she could taste the flavor of it in his mouth, feel it pump through her veins.

Together, they worked off his T-shirt and pushed down his jeans. When he paused to get the condom out of his wallet, desperation spiked inside of her. Pressing her hands against his chest, she rolled him over, then she straddled him and sheathed him in the condom herself.

“Now.” They spoke the word together and moved in unison. His fingers dug into her hips as he lifted her. Her fingers wrapped around him as she guided him in.

Then they were both moving fast as pleasure built with a speed that stole her breath. Her vision grayed until she could see only him—Jed, Ethan, Lucifer. He was all of them and for now, for this moment, he was hers. Glorying in the realization and in the power, she gave herself to him.

Even though she thought she knew what was coming, thought she’d experienced every nuance of pleasure that he could give her, the climax, when it came, slammed into her and threw her higher. She heard his cry as he joined her, and then there was mindless bliss.



WHEN HIS MIND WAS WORKING again and his senses absorbing data, Jed discovered that he was lying on the floor and Zoë was snuggled on top of him. What in hell was he going to say to her now?