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We watch her leave. “So, what’s with the urgent call?” Samuel asks, picking up the drink he already ordered while waiting for me.

“What? Can’t a friend call a friend?”

It’s his turn to raise an eyebrow. “We spoke on the telephone yesterday—twice,” he says.

I wrinkle my nose.

Busted.

“We kissed,” I say, watching a smirk spread over his lips. “What?” I ask.

“I’m surprised is all,” he says, sitting back and folding his arms.

I sigh, staring at the table. “I’m shocked at myself. Horrified, in fact. I don’t know what I was thinking. We were in an enclosed space, and he was just there, and he smelled…” I look up from the table to find Samuel biting his lip as he tries unsuccessfully not to laugh.

“Why are you laughing?”

“I’m not,” he says, wiping a tear from his cheek. “It’s just you seem so surprised. You must be the only one who is. The electricity between you two is off the scale. I’m shocked you haven’t ripped each other’s clothes off yet. Especially with you staying under his roof.”

I sit back in the chair and fold my arms, staring at him. Has he lost the plot?

“How can you say that?” I ask. “Caleb Frazer will be no different from the other men and women, who have grown up cocooned within a world of wealth and power. They areall used to getting what they want. I’m nothing more than a challenge.”

“I think you’re wrong,” Samuel says, shrugging. “Caleb is nothing like the other arrogant pricks you met at the conservatoire or at Merryfellows. You shouldn’t insult him by lumping him in with them,” he admonishes me.

I stare at him, startled. “Maybe Cal is just better at hiding it?”

But as soon as the words leave my mouth, I know I’m wrong. I let the fight drain out of me. Our kiss has thrown me, knocked me off balance.

“I’m not going there,” I tell my best friend, my voice sounding huffy.

He lets out a bark. “Why on earth not? It’s not like you haven’t been there before. From what you told me, it wasvery enjoyable.”

I smack his arm when he wiggles his eyebrows.

“Caleb seems like a nice guy.”

“Are we talking about the same guy? He’s cocky, arrogant, and far too charming for his own good. Not to mention the city’s most prolific playboy! You’re supposed to be on my side,” I say, knowing the words are an excuse, and are not how I see Cal. Instead, he confuses me. The more time I spend with him, makes me question everything I thought I believed. He is not what I expected.

“I am, butmethinks you doth protest too much.Why are you worried aboutkissing a guy you find attractive? Hell,Ifind him attractive,” Samuel swoons.

He’s never hidden the fact he finds Cal good-looking. I’m not sure many people would unless you aren’t into tall, dark-haired men with a chiselled jaw, strong cheekbones, and dark eyes. Eyes that almost turn black when he’s aroused.

Oh hell.

My mind flies back to that moment his lips descended,and I wanted nothing more than to pull him close and devour him, have him devour me. My laboured breathing. My pebbled nipples pressed painfully against my soaking wet bra. I wanted him to warm me up, as I knew only he could, but not because of the rain.

Instead, I panicked and ran.

I was soaking wet, so I dropped my outer layers by the door, hoping Cal wasn’t hot on my tail. Having felt his erection, I didn’t think that was likely. I made it to my bedroom and locked myself in. I was so turned on, having watched Cal and his rippling muscles as he worked out, even our banter as we ran.

I’m doomed.

Even worse, I took the new vibrator Samuel had bought me into the shower. He gave it to me as a moving-in gift. Telling me I’d need it if I was going to live with all that Frazer hotness! I hate that he was right. I closed my eyes, imagining the water running down my body was Cal’s mouth and hands. When I finally slipped the thing inside me, I came so damn hard I bruised my lip, biting down to stop the scream from escaping. I knew then I needed to get out of the apartment.

Cassie arrives with our drinks.

“Here you go,” she says, putting them down and leaving again.