Page 43 of Shallow

And that moan is what does it. It’s what sends me over the edge. Her weakness brings back a memory I’ve tried to forget, but her response ignites a fire I can’tcontrol.

“Hold on to me,” I whisper against her lips. The minute she complies to my demand, I lift her in my arms and set her on the edge the small sink. She barely has time to steady herself before I force her lips open again, a rush of hot lust tearing through me. She grips my shirt and falls into me, making a desperate situation damn near violent. Fisting her hair with one hand, I reach down with the other and squeeze her breast through her tanktop.

Shiloh throws her head back, gasping for air as I lower my mouth to the hollow of her neck. “Cary…”

“No talking,” I command, licking the indentation above her collarbone. Barriers are pissing me off, so I jerk the tank top strap off her shoulder and grind my cock against her. “I want you. Righthere.”

She feebly nods toward the hallway while her fingers still tug on my shirt. “But what about theboys?”

“Then I suggest you don’t scream.” Kicking what’s left of the door closed, I move my kisses back to her lips, diving deep and demanding as much as she’ll give. I’m losing myself in every sigh, every groan, every scrape of her nails because I want it. Because I know she wants it. Fuck, because at the very least, I deserveit.

Overdue and ready to explode, I fumble for the button on her shorts when an alarm goes off in her purse. Pulling away, Shiloh glances toward the floor and bites herlip.

“Ignore it,” I demand, undoing the button and going for herzipper.

She stops me, placing a shaking hand over mine. “I have togo.”

“The hell youdo.”

“I have to seeWill.”

Hearing my best friend’s name on the lips of the woman I have every intention of fucking screws with my head. Jerking my hand away, I eye her suspiciously. “Will? Why the hell do you have to seehim?”

“I have to check in. It’srequired.”

Of course she does. Why wouldn’t Will cockblock me right now? He warned me when he dropped her off two weeks ago not to do this. Well, not this, exactly, but he warned me not to let personal vendettas cloud my judgment when it came toShiloh.

Is that what thisis?

While I have a personal tug-of-war with my conscience, Shiloh slips off the sink and bends over to retrieve her purse. I watch her every move, forcing myself not slam her against the wall for roundtwo.

“It’s a good thing,” she says, laying a hand on my shoulder. “You would’ve regrettedthis.”

“My dick disagrees,” I snort. She has no idea how right she is—only it’s not me who would’ve regretted it. Opening her legs to me would be like opening the gate to hell. Once she let me in, there’d be no way out. We’d both be eternallydamned.

Her hand slides off my arm, and I stiffen through her breathy sigh. “You despise me, Cary, and with good reason. This would’ve been a hate fuck. Where would that have left us for the next three years? Trust me, I’m doing you a favor.” Opening the destroyed door, she disappears around the corner, leaving me with more questions thananswers.

When I know she’s gone, I can answer truthfully to a silentroom.

“I’m not so sure aboutthat.”

* * *

Jealousy.People call it the green-eyed monster, but as I fling open the door to Will’s building, it feels more like a one-eyed snake. Because that’s what brought me here. My dick. It’s what took over my head, clouded my judgment, and drove me across town to a piece of shit office in the middle of the day for no other reason than to check up onher.

I’ve lost mymind.

Honestly, I don’t know why the hell I’m here. I’m swinging from one rationalization to another for doing this. I’m pissed off—mad at myself for losing control and at her for turning me down. Maybe I grabbed the pill bottle she left to blackmail her to come back. Maybe I did it purely out ofretribution.

She’s forcing my hand on this. It’s her fault for bringing them into mycenter.

I scrub my hands down my face a few times, trying to get it together. As I approach Will’s office, I notice the door is slightly ajar and slow my stride. I make it two more steps before recognizing hervoice.

“I didn’t expect it to be so emotional. I wasn’t prepared forthat.”

Shiloh’s confession stops me in my tracks, and I press my back against the wall. Gripping the doorframe, I lean closer, irritated she’s talking about what happened between us toWill.

“I didn’t say it’d be easy,” Will says, his voice sympathetic. “But it’s going to get easier eachtime.”