Oh boy. She had her work cut out for her here. “But this is a complication.”
His gaze dropped her mouth, then farther down to her throat. “Yes. A major one.”
“Which means we have to do something about it, right? If you want to keep things running smoothly, that is.”
He didn’t move, still caging her against the wall. “I’m open to suggestions.”
She shivered, loving being small and fragile next to his height and power. Next to the sheer intensity of him. “Well, as it happens, I do have one “ Her voice was all but a whisper. “But it’s probably a little too wild for you.”
Really, it was a little too wild even for her, but they had to get this insane attraction out of the way somehow. Put it behind them. Indulging themselves might improve their working relationship in the long run, enable them to both be more professional with each other.
Yeah, have sex in order to be professional. Totally worked for her.
And then there was the issue of Christie and Joseph. She and Luke needed to be able to get along since their best friends were married to each other, and wouldn’t drawing a line under it actually help in that regard?
Hell, she’d be doing it for Christie and Joseph’s sake. She owed it to them, even.
You’re thinking way too much about this.
Yeah, okay, she was. Perhaps she should stop.
“Too wild?” His attention had dropped once more, to her throat, then down farther to where the button on her blouse had come undone. “What’s too wild?”
“This.” Marisa shot out a hand and grabbed his tie, curling her fingers around it. Then she tugged his mouth down on hers.
Desire exploded between them like a can of petrol hurled onto an open fire.
Luke didn’t pull back, didn’t hesitate. He pushed her hard against the wall and devoured her like he’d been starving for weeks and she was his first taste of food.
Every single thought in Marisa’s head instantly burned to ashes as hunger arced through her. She put her arms around his neck, pressing herself against his body, feeling his heat and power even through the muffling layers of clothing. Reveling in it.
“A kiss is too wild?” he said roughly against her mouth.
“No.” She had a better idea, a much better idea. “I’m thinking about way more than that.”
She put one hand behind her, found the door handle to the stationery supply room, and opened it. Then she pulled Luke in after her.
The room was, as she’d hoped, empty.
Luke kicked the door shut behind him and Marisa opened her mouth, about to take charge of the situation as she always did. But then his hands gripped her hips and he turned her, pushed her up against the door, his tall, powerful body pinning her there. Holding her there.
“I’m guessing you’re thinking sex.” His voice had rough undertones that made her want to shiver. “In here.”
“Sure. Why not? This unable-to-keep-our-hands-off-each-other thing is a complication, right? So let’s handle it.”
His eyes glowed molten silver. “Now?”
“Yeah, now. The sooner we get this over with the sooner we can both go back to our normal lives.”
“This wasn’t the kind of suggestion I had in mind.”
“Hey, buddy, if you’ve got a better idea about how to deal with it I’d like to hear it.”
Luke said nothing, standing so still it nearly drove her insane. She wished he would do something. Move those warm hands on her. All over her. Touch her. Relieve the ache that was getting worse and worse the longer they stood there.
Abruptly, his fingers gripped her chin and tilted her head back, his thumb brushing the line of her lower lip in a caress that caught her off guard in its gentleness. “No one can know,” he murmured. “Understand? This is between you and me.”
“Of course. Like I’d want everyone knowing me and the cyborg CEO have been knocking boots. My reputation would be ruined.”
A crease appeared between his brows. “Cyborg CEO? What reputation?”
But Marisa had had enough. Time to get this “dealing with it” show on the road. Instead of replying, she opened her mouth and bit the tip of his thumb.
The scorching look in his eyes flared, the breath hissing in his throat. “Stop that.”
“Make me,” she whispered.
Without a word, Luke bent his head and covered her mouth with his. A hard, deep kiss.
Oh wow. Clearly Luke McNamara had a dominant streak and she…she liked it.
Marisa gasped, kissing him back, all her good intentions about keeping control and handling this slipping away.
Because there was no handling this. No way to take charge or manage it. Together they were a forest fire and they were burning out of control.