Page 11

Her head moved before she gave it permission, and Bethany exhaled roughly, ready to kick her own ass for that weak slip.
“I guess that will have to be enough for now,” he rasped.He continued to stare down at her for a full minute, his eyes raking over her face and her body with a hunger that threatened to flatten her where she stood.
Finally, he held out the bakery bag to her.The scent of sugared pastry rose to tease her nostrils.She was fast reaching her breaking point.Seeing him again felt like being plugged into an electric socket with the voltage racing higher by the second.She risked a full-body electrocution if she didn’t retreat fast.
“If I take this, will you go away?”she ventured bravely.
His eyes narrowed further.“I’m hanging on by a fucking thread here, baby, so don’t push me.Take the food,” he instructed.
She took the bag and the coffee he held out to her.With both hands full, she couldn’t stop him when he reached out and traced his thumb over her lower lip.It tingled and trembled before she bit desperately on it and jerked her head away.
His eyes darkened, and he made a rough sound under his breath.
“Drink some water first before you drink the coffee.And next time you run, take some water with you.It’s July in New York for fuck’s sake.I don’t want you stroking out on some street corner because you’re careless with your health.”
She really needed to get out of here.“Are you done?”
His fingers twitched again as if he wanted to touch her.
“Not nearly.I’ll call you in twenty minutes.Make sure you pick up.”
Every nerve in her body screamed in anticipation, even as she raised her chin.“Or what?”
“Or I’ll just turn around and come back here.You have no idea how much it hurts to be this close to you and not take you in my arms and show you how much I’ve missed you.But I’m playing by your rules for now.So throw me a fucking bone, Bethany.Pick up the phone when I call.Or I will come back.And if you think that puny excuse of a doorman—who I can see glaring at me from in there—is going to stop me, think again.”
With one last intense look, he took two steps back and pulled the back door open.She didn’t want to watch him leave.She swore she wouldn’t do it as she turned and walked quickly toward the swinging doors.
And yet, as Vlad moved forward and held the door open for her, she found herself looking over her shoulder.
Zach’s eyes were riveted on her.When they dropped to her ass, she saw his grip clench hard on the car door.His gaze reconnected with hers and the stark, fiery hunger on his face slammed into her so hard she moaned.
She rushed indoors and stumbled toward the elevator, nodding jerkily at Vlad’s concerned query, asking if she was all right.She was still shuddering long after she was back in her apartment, her body screaming with all the emotions rampaging through her.
He called exactly twenty minutes later.Freshly showered and sipping the last of the delicious freshly ground coffee, she told herself she was answering so he would leave her alone and not return to shatter her peace of mind.
“I’ve answered your call.Can I go now?”
“No, you can’t.You sent me away when I wanted to lick every fucking drop of sweat off your gorgeous body.Now I have a hard-on that won’t subside and an appointment in five minutes.You’ll pay for that, Peaches.”
Her breath caught at his dark promise.Desperately, she tried to think of anything else besides Zach’s cock and what form her punishment would take.
This man had turned her life upside down with a revelation that should make her run a thousand miles… He continued to devastate her with his silence while blatantly disregarding the fact that she considered them over.
And yet, her heart and body craved him with a hunger that defied reason.Despair warred with anger inside her, and still she hung on, her pulse hammering, and waited to hear that deep, gravel-rough voice again.
“Did you eat yet?”he asked.
“Yes.”She’d devoured the cream-filled pastry within minutes of entering her apartment.Stress eating had never felt so good, and the deep shame she’d felt afterward was well worth it.
“Good.”Satisfaction reeked in his voice.
“What kind of appointment do you have on a Saturday?”she asked before she could stop herself.
“I’m apartment hunting.I’m seeing four today.I could use your help if you want to come meet me?”
Several thoughts tumbled through her mind, but the one that lit like a neon sign in her brain was—Zach was staying in New York.Yeah, big deal.It changed nothing.Their problems still loomed large and would remain insurmountable until Zach got the message that open communication was non-negotiable.“I told you I have other plans.”
“Tell me about these plans.”