Page 58 of Inevitable

“You think I like this?” I asked, crowding her in the already tight space. “You think Iwantto stay away from you?”

She turned her head to the side so that my breath grazed her cheek. I leaned in, knowing I’d regret this later, but at the moment, I didn’t give a damn.

“I want you so fucking bad, I can barely breathe,” I panted. I pulled her into me, letting her feel just how much I craved her.

“Jonathan. Please.” She placed her hand on my wrist as if to stop me or to urge me on, which, I wasn’t sure. From her tone, it sounded more like she was begging me to continue, even as her eyes glittered with anger.

I leaned in, kissing my way down her neck. Savoring every inch of her.

“Aren’t we supposed to befriends? Colleagues?” Despite her protest, she panted, pressing her hips to mine.

“We are. But right now…” I nipped at her collarbone, and she gasped when I slid my hand into her skirt, sliding through her slick, wet heat. “High above the world… You’re mine.”

She gripped the edge of the sink, pressing herself into my hand. “I thought this ended in New York.”

“It does.Did,”I said, dipping my tongue into her mouth for a kiss. “We’re still on New York time. This doesn’t count.”

She panted as I teased her clit. I swallowed her moans with kisses, wondering if the other passengers could hear us.

“Tell me to stop,” I whispered. “If you tell me…”

She gripped my forearm, holding me in place. “Don’t you dare stop.”

I drove her to the breaking point, my movements frenzied, my thoughts disordered. “This is the way ithasto be. You understand, right?”

“Right.Because I’m bad for your image.” She pushed me away, jerking out of my hold, but not before I’d seen the flash of pain in her eyes.

“No.” I crouched down so I was at her eye level. “Is that what this is about?”

“Yes. No. Ugh.” She clenched her fists, her skin still flushed with desire. “The last guy I dated wouldn’t introduce me to his friends, wouldn’t meet my family, wouldn’t…” She sagged. “Well, let’s just say thatIwasn’t good for ‘optics.’”

“Sumner. That’s…shitty. I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to make you feel like—”

“The dirty little secret I am?” She straightened her clothes, and I could see her rebuilding her armor.

I dragged a hand through my hair.God, I am such a hypocrite.

“That’s not—” I let out a deep sigh. “More than anything, I worry about how this would affect your relationship with Ian.”

“And yours.”

“That too,” I admitted.

“I know. You’re right. Just…” She sighed. “Give me a minute. I’m amped up from the flight and everything. I promise that by the time we land in LA, I’ll have my head screwed on straight.”

I wasn’t sure I’d ever have my head screwed on straight when it came to this woman. My feelings were so conflicted, want and need overriding my better sense. Making me betray my best friend in a way that would’ve seemed unthinkable. And yet…I couldn’t seem to stop myself when it came to his daughter. I was going to end up hurting them both. I was going to end up hurting us all.

* * *

“How was New York?”Cody asked, standing from his desk as I stalked toward my office. After the flight, I’d come straight to the office, but it still felt as if my head were in the clouds.

“Fine.” God, there was that fucking word again, though this time, the memory of it brought a smile to my face, fleeting as it was.

I smoothed a hand over my hair as if to soothe my guilt. All the while, I wondered how the hell I was going to make it through the rest of the summer. I’d have to see Sumner every day, all while knowing what she tasted like, felt like. Those sexy moans she made when I touched her in all the right places. It was going to be torture.

“Just fine?” He followed me into my office.

“Yes,” I ground out. I barely glanced up at him, busying myself with plugging in my laptop and turning it on.