Page 72 of Ashes

“Sienna,” I growled. “You didnotjust fucking bite me.”

“I told you to?—”

I slapped her ass, cutting her off. Changing my mind, I veered toward my office instead of taking the stairs to her room. I stormed inside my office and closed the door behind us with my foot.

I turned and kneeled down to drop her to her feet, her back to the door. Then I slowly straightened, her heaving chest scraping against my suit as I stood to my full height.

My gaze met hers and her anger momentarily dissipated before returning in full force. “Did you justspankme?” she asked, bewildered.

“You didn’t give me a choice,” I deadpanned, turning around and walking away from her. I leaned against mydesk and gripped the edge to stop myself from doing it again.

I heard her groan. “Why do you make this so difficult? You know, I was actually starting to think you weren’t so bad. But every time I think nice things about you, you do this thing where you close up or do something so infuriating it erases all of it.”

My frustration boiled over at her constant defiance. At how much I wanted her but couldn’t fucking have her.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

What I wouldn’t give to be able to pretend for just one brief moment that she could be mine.

What I wouldn’t give to be able to be inside her for just one night.

Ugh, who was I kidding. I bet just one taste of her and I’d be addicted.

I shook my head, running a hand over my face before whipping around to face her again. “And you think it’s easy for me?” I seethed, taking a step forward.

Her eyes widened as she stepped back.

“You think it’s easy for me to live inmyown house withyouin it? I can barely fucking get anything done throughout the day,” I continued until she backed into the door, her hands pressing against it to steady herself.

“How is that my fault?” she countered, seething.

Her anger simmered down and she swallowed hard as I stalked closer, barely leaving an inch between us. I wantedto engrain myself in every part of her so she would be mine and mine alone.

I placed a hand over her head. A loose strand of her hair fell over her face and I brought my other hand to brush it away from her face, tucking it behind her ear.

“Because you’re all I seem to think about and it drives me fucking insane,” I confessed, dropping my forehead against hers. “You’re infuriating, but I just can’t stop. I shouldn’t want you, but for some godforsaken reason, I can’t stay away. You’re a pain in my ass, but I crave you all the fucking time.”

My hand lingered on her face as I cupped her jaw, tilting her head back. She stared up at me through her eyelashes. We’d barely touched, yet we were both panting heavily, our heavy breathing filling the enclosed space.

Every second that passed was torture.

I should walk away.

I really should.

My eyes traveled down to her red-painted lips with only one thought.

Oh, et puis merde.

My head angled down. “Sienna?” I whispered, my thumb softly circling her jaw.

She reached out and gripped my arm, her fingers digging into my bicep. “Yes?”

“Remember your kissing rule?”

She hummed.

“It’s absolutely necessary for me to kiss you right now.”