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“Why did you do that?” My heart races, nearly bursting from my chest. “The last thing I need is a scandal withyou.”
“Too bad, Ice Queen. This is what you secretly wanted,” he shoots back.
“No, it wasn’t!”
“Aww, is the diamond princess mad because she always gets her fucking way, like a brat, but this time, she didn’t? You’ve lost control. Just admit it.”
“Why are you testing me?” I breathe out. “You’re making this personal.”
“It’s beenpersonalsince the day we met.”
He reaches past me, but I block his path to the button.
“You’re infuriating as fuck,” I whisper. “Do you realize what you’ve done? There are lines that shouldn’t be crossed. That was one of them,” I groan. “You just …”
He smirks. “You’re having an existential crisis right now.”
My brows crease. “Gross.”
“Your words mean nothing when I heard you whimper.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “I didnot.”
“Deny that shit all you want.” He steps closer, and my back presses against the cool wall. He leans in, his hot breath ghosting over my lips. “And what if I kissed you right now?”
I try to respond, but my breath catches in my throat. My eyes flutter closed as his lips barely brush against mine. The metallic box suddenly feels too small, too hot, too fucking charged.
Heat radiates off Asher’s body, his broad shoulders taking up more space than they should. His muscular frame exudes a raw, untamed dominance that makes my skin prickle. His cologne is unapologetically masculine, wrapping around me and nearly suffocating me.
I hate him. Ireallyhate him. But my body betrays me as a flush of heat pools low in my belly.
His lips hover inches from mine, and I’m stunned by his level of control. I look up into his light-brown eyes, the intensity of his gaze nearly bringing me to my knees.
“Why are you doing this?” I whisper, my voice trembling, but the way my nipples harden against the fabric of my damp dress tells a different story.
“Tell me you don’t want me,” he mutters, his deep voice vibrating through my core.
Instead of protesting, I pull him closer. His lips crash against mine with a ferocity that steals my breath. His tongue slides into my mouth, claiming me again. And, damn, I hate how good it feels. How primal, desperate, and filthy it is to kiss him. Asher devours my lips, our tongues dancing together in a way that sends electric shocks straight to my core.
“I’m your karma,” he murmurs as my fingers thread through his hair.
My hands should fly to his chest to push him away, but instead, I cling to the fabric of his shirt, pulling him even closer. I feel the hard ridges of his muscles beneath the wet material; his pecs flex as he deepens the kiss, gripping my hips with bruising force. His cock presses against me, thick, even through our layers of clothes.
I whimper against his mouth, hating myself for the needy sound escaping me.
“Mmhmm. There it fucking was again.”
Banks breaks the kiss just long enough for me to growl out a, “Shut up,” before his lips crash back onto mine—this time even rougher and dirtier.
One hand slides down to grip my ass while the other tangles in my hair, angling my head for better access. My clit throbs with every rough touch. When Banks finally pulls away, my chest heaves, and my lips tingle.
He chuckles darkly, creating space as he presses the button for the elevator to continue down. We might not exchange any words, but the conversation issofucking loud.
I place my fingers over my lips, still trying to process everything. The elevator stops, but neither of us moves.
His eyes burn into mine—wild and feral—and I know I’m in trouble. As much as I hate him, I can’t deny the white-hot desire coursing through my veins. And judging by the look on his face, he feels it too.
The doors slide open, and Banks gives me that arrogant, infuriating smirk that makes me want to slap him and fuck him at the same time. He licks his lips and eye-fucks me for a few seconds before walking away. I don’t realize I’m holding my breath until he’s out of sight.