Summer’s brows lifted. “That doesn’t sound like Joe. But if you’re so determined to stay away from him, then it shouldn’t bother you who comes to see him, should it?”
Em glared at her friend. “I hate lawyer logic.”
Smiling, Summer squeezed her arm. “Just remember Joe isn’t who you want.”
“Joe isn’t who I want,” she murmured all the way back to her desk. “Joe isn’t who I want.”
But the moment Joe and the model walked out of his office her teeth gritted. She ducked her head, pretending to be engrossed with something at her desk, but the woman’s husky laughter as they waited by the elevator got to her. She hopped up and strode to the ladies room, not caring that she was leaving the desk unattended. This was an emergency.
She turned on the faucet and leaned against the counter, looking at herself in the mirror. Her face was flushed, her eyes bright. She looked both furious and aroused.
She hated it. Not caring that she’d mess up her makeup, she cupped her hands and splashed water on her face.
She heard the restroom door open but she ignored it, relishing the cool water. Eyes closed, she reached blindly for a paper towel to blot her face.
Her hand came into contact with a hand that held a towel out for her. A masculine hand.
Her nipples peaked—damn it—and she glared as she snatched the towel and blotted her face. She glared up at Joe. “You shouldn’t be in here.”
“What’s wrong?” he asked, his gaze searching hers.
She glared at him. “Absolutely nothing.”
He frowned. “This isn’t about Cressida, is it? She’s an old chum from uni.”
“Yes, you two were certainly chummy.”
He grinned suddenly. “You’re jealous.”
“Ha!”
He hauled her in his arms and kissed her, all enthusiasm and desire.
She wanted to resist—she told herself to resist. She lifted her hands to his chest to push him away, but they clenched him closer. When he lifted her onto the counter, her legs wrapped around his waist of their own accord. She felt his hard arousal press at the core of her, and she moaned into his mouth.
“This isn’t going to work,” she said between kisses.
He yanked her blouse out of her skirt and ran a hand up the bare skin of her back. “Why not?”
“Because you’re wrong for me.” Her heel hooked behind his leg, pulling him in closer. “I don’t want this, this—”
“Passion?”
“Insanity,” she corrected.
His thumb pressed the hard tip of her breast and she moaned. He nuzzled her neck, his teeth teasing her skin. “I think you do want this. You want me.”
She did—so badly she was shaking with it. Her body felt on fire and out of control. She wanted to tell him to pull her knickers down and touch her, to feel her wetness.
As if he could read her mind, his other hand skimmed up her thigh, his fingers rubbing her through the damp cotton.
A sharp current of pleasure made her cry out. Eyes squeezed shut, she bit her lip to keep from begging him to make her come.
“I want you, Em,” Joe whispered against her skin. “I haven’t hidden it, and I’m through waiting until you’re ready.”
“But I’m not interested in playing,” she lied, panting. “I want forever.”
“I want you forever.”
That didn’t make sense. Why would he want her forever? She was nothing, from druggie parents who didn’t know she existed. He could have anyone—even a Victoria’s Secret model.
Her head swam as his fingers caressed her through her underwear. Her hips arched up of their own accord, a silent plea for him to give her more.
Being here, with Joe like this, reminded her of the time she’d walked into the kitchen and found her mother writhing on the counter with some random man.
“No, I can’t.” She pushed him away, tugging down her skirt and pressing her knees together. “I’m like my mother around you.”
He stepped away from her, but his gaze sharpened. “What does that mean?”
“She acted this way with men. Any man. All the time.” She swallowed her shame as she righted her clothing and smoothed her hair frantically, trying to calm her breathing.
“You’re not like your mother.”
She glanced at him. “How would you know?”
He crossed his arms. “Because I’m the only man who’ll ever make you feel this way.”
She laughed, but it sounded shrill to her own ears. “You don’t know.”
“Do you act this way around Ben?”
No, which was precisely why he was so good for her.
The door opened, and one of the assistants walked in, stumbling to a wide-eyed stop when she saw Joe.