Page 19 of Point of Contention

Taking advantage of those parted lips, I slanted my mouth over hers, drawing her tongue to mine with long, searching strokes. She melted against me, relaxing into my hold, then her hands were in my hair, fingers digging into my scalp as she pushed up onto her toes and kissed me back with equal fervor.

She moaned into my mouth and I drank the sound, tightening my arm around her waist. My cock rose to life between us, so desperate for her that it quickly became a heavy, needy ache. She pressed her hips against me and I tightened my hand in her hair, tugging her head back to look into her eyes. We both panted, eyes searching, then I pulled her head back to mine once more and kissed her again.

Harder still, tongues and teeth and frantic lips.

She felt so fuckinggood, so real in my arms.

I’d never let her go again. Not a fucking chance.

Someone cleared their throat. “Gross.”

Rylan broke the kiss and jumped backwards out of my grasp, wiping her hand over her mouth and dropping her gaze as if she was ashamed of us, of this.

Swiveling my head to the stairwell, I looked up at her friend. “Ms. Clements. Tremendous timing.”

“Right?” She laughed. “Imagine what could have happened if I hadn’t decided I was hungry.” She walked down the stairs, gaze locked on mine the whole way. When she reached the landing, she crossed her arms over her chest. “Well? What are you doing here? Aside from assaulting my friend.”

“That’s not a word to play with, Ms. Clements.”

“Who said I was playing?”

Breathing deeply, I stood taller and looked down at her. “I’ve come to convince Rylan to return to the internship program at Reed Romance.” Using this interruption to my benefit, I added, “Maybe you can help me.”

Greer raised one eyebrow. “Helpyou?”

“Yes, Ms. Clements. Helpmehelp her.” I glanced at Rylan and then back to her friend. “She’s throwing away a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

“She had help in that, though, didn’t she?”

Well, she was an annoying one, wasn’t she? Forcing my expression into calm detachment, I offered her a placating smile. “I’ll admit, things did not happen how they should have. I didn’t plan for any of this.”

“It would be weird if you had.”

“But now that it’s happened, how we proceed is what matters. And I refuse to let Rylan walk away from something so integral in her future. An internship at Reed Romance is a life-changer.”

“Wow, Ry, you didn’t tell me he was humble, too.”

My jaw clenched, but I ignored the jab.

“Greer,” Rylan snapped. “Stop.”

Greer was Rylan’s best friend, and thus, protective of her; I could understand and respect that. But my patience would only go so far, and it was best that I say what needed to be said and be on my way before she pushed me too far and I said something I might regret—or pushed Rylan farther away from me in the process. I knew women well enough to know that if their friends didn’t approve, a man would be hard-pressed to stand a chance.

I inclined my head to Greer. “I understand where you stand, and how everything must look from your perspective. I understand what you think of me. But I can assure you, I have Rylan’s best interests at heart. I care for her very deeply.”

She scowled. “Yeah. I bet.”

“Greer,” Rylan whispered.

“What? He ruined your life, Ry.”

Rylan sighed, then stood taller, squaring her shoulders as she summoned her strength. “It wasn’t some one-sided thing, G. We both acted inappropriately. We both crossed a line. If you want to blame him, you have to blame me, too. Equally.”

“No. He’s your boss.” She strode toward us, pointing at me as her voice rose with every word. “He’s older. He’s in charge. He took advantage.”

There was truth to her words, truth to the power dynamic I should have been more respectful of. I was older. I was in charge. I did technically cross the line.

But it hadn’t been malicious.