Page 18

The plain whitedoor stares back at me as I wait for it to open. This is a terrible idea, but I couldn't stop myself. Every step from my condo here, up the stairs, and now each second that ticks by as I wait, I know this will end badly. Or great, depending on which way you look at it. I see it as a good thing, but Tank might have other opinions on me coming up to Randi's room in the middle of the night when I should be home in my own bed.

Again though, I couldn't not come.

Seeing her with that dickstick on a date that I can't take her on messed with my head, brewed something dark deep inside me. That dark drove me here, urging me to lay claim to her, to make sure she knows she's mine even if we can't be together. It's crazy, idiotic, but it’s there, still curling and brewing in my gut.

I knock again, this time with a little more force. Even though it’s one in the morning, I know without a doubt she's still up. If I know her, she's probably going through the lineup of every congressman and senator, making a line chart of who she might be able to recruit to change their vote on the upcoming bill.

Inching closer to the door, I tilt my head, angling my ear closer. The soft padding of her feet against the carpet pushes me back a step, not wanting to be in her face the second she opens the door.

An inch gap appears between the door and the frame, a cautious hazel eye peering around only to relax the second it lands on me.

“Trouble,” she says with a resigned sigh. “What the hell are you doing here? I thought you were someone here to kill me or something.”

I arch a dark brow. “Would someone here to assassinate you knock?”

“Maybe. Could be their ploy to get me out of the security of my room.”

I stifle a laugh but can't stop a full smile from crawling up my lips. “Let me in, Mess.”

The door swings open, leaving just enough space for me to squeeze through. A single light gives the room a soft glow from the nightstand. As I suspected, the bed is still made, and her laptop and iPad are on the floor beside the chair in the far corner.

“Working late?” I ask over my shoulder as I move deeper into the bedroom.

“Always, you know that. Can't get anything done sleeping.” I watch as she folds back into the chair, tosses a thick blanket over her bare legs, and leans against the high back, narrowing her eyes. “What are you doing here?”

“Honestly?” I sigh. “I don't know. All I know is I had to come over. I needed to see you after tonight.”

“Don't you dare say that,” she chides. “You don't have the right to say you needed to see me. You tabled us and any right you have of stopping by in the middle of the night.”

“I know.” I massage the bridge of my nose. Fuck, I'm tired. Worrying about her, staying away, pretending we're nothing more than friends has taken its toll these past few months. “Doesn't change the fact that I needed to see you. Everything is still there, Randi, you know that. It fucking kills me to keep my hands off you every time we're together.” Her eyes widen. “I've done my best to seem impartial, but alone, like this, when it’s just you and me and the night… I want….” Turning from her imploring gaze, I run a hand through my dark hair and tug the ends.

“You want what, Trey?”

“I want you,” I whisper. “I can't stop wanting you.” Turning to look over my shoulder, I say, “Wanting you to only be mine.”

She shakes her head, biting back a smile. “I am yours. Have been since you ran me the most expensive bubble bath ever after the debate. I don't want anyone else. I'm not attracted to anyone else. Haven't you noticed what you do to me?”

This time it’s me shaking my head.

“I want you, only you, touching me. It's your hands, your fingers I crave. No one else. Hell, I can barely stand to be touched for longer than ten seconds by anyone else.”

“Who else has touched you?” I growl, swiveling around to face her straight on. Stalking across the room, I pause directly in front of the chair, my shins touching the soft cushion. “Tell me.”

“No one,” she whispers on a soft breath. “That’s what I'm trying to tell you. You're different, Trey, in every way. And I only want you. I only crave you.”

Forgetting the millions of reasons why we can't be together, I fall to my knees, putting us at eye level. My fingers delve into her thick brown hair and curl into a tight fist. Her breath hitches at the sharp tug pulling her lips an inch from mine.

“Say it again. Say that you're mine.” The darkness from earlier spreads through my body, demanding I take her, reminding her of whose she is.

“I'm yours, Trouble.”

With a desire-filled groan, I seal my lips to hers. She parts them, giving me access to tangle my tongue with hers. My fingers tighten, tilting her head and elongating her slim neck. Skimming along her soft jaw, I suck and nip at the skin beneath her ear.

“This cannot get out,” I whisper against her skin.

“Won't T know you're here?” Her breathy voice, the soft moan at the end, urges me lower.

“We'll tell him. Fuck, I don't care right now.” Releasing her hair, I tuck both hands beneath her arms. Standing, I take her with me. Immediately her legs wrap around my waist, the front of her terry cloth robe parting as her hands cup the back of my neck. The sweet scent of her wet center hits my nose, hardening my cock. Her hips flex, pressing her damp heat against my jeans and grinds.