Page 68 of The Merger

“Why?”

I take a deep breath and move to the windows. The city is so peaceful from up here. It feels like you’re detached from the reality below. Unaffected. If only that were true.

“Why were you avoiding me?” he asks again.

“Because I didn’t know what to say.”

“Seems like you’re finding words pretty easily to me.”

His chair scratches against the hardwood behind me, the sound echoing through the office. The hair on the back of my neck stands on end as I sense Gannon’s proximity. I don’t dare look. I’m not going to turn around to see him. I’ll just wait him out and see what he says … or does.

As my heart pounds, anticipating his next move, it takes a conscious effort to breathe evenly.

Gannon brushes my hair off the back of my neck and tosses it over my shoulder. I tremble as his fingertips sweep across my shoulder. Every cell in my body is on fire, and I’m completely at his mercy.

He moves closer, barely skimming my back with his front.I think I’m going to come undone.

“You, Miss Johnson, talked a lot of shit on Friday night.”

I hum in agreement, keeping my focus on the flag rippling in the wind across the street.

“Do you remember all the things you said?” he asks softly.

“Not verbatim, but I have a pretty good idea.”

“How much of that did you mean?”

My mouth goes dry, and my chest shakes as I suck in a breath. I don’t know exactly what I said, and if I did, I’d probably be mortified. But I’m certain the gist of it was that I wanted to sleep with him. That still holds true.

“I’m not in the habit of saying things I don’t mean,” I say. “So, if I said it, I meant it.”

He shifts behind me. “Turn around.”

My body moves on his command. My brain doesn’t have to order my feet to move because I simply swivel in a half circle until I’m eye to eye with the sexy bastard.

“Relationships are for the young and dumb,” he says, holding me hostage with a look.

“I agree.”

His pupils narrow. “I’m not interested in anything with labels or rules, and I won’t make promises or commitments.”

“Thank God.”

A grin ghosts his lips.

“I’ve told you before that all I want from a man is sex,” I say, trying not to squirm beneath his heated gaze. “I can get everything else I want and need myself. I just want a good fucking time.”

“You’re okay if Tate finds out?”

I lick my bottom lip and grin. “Gannon, I’m not fucking your brother. He doesn’t have to know everything that I do.”

He takes a step back, his eyes wild. One of his large hands combs through his hair as if he’s struggling to make a decision.A decision about me.

“Forget it,” I say, not interested in standing in front of him while he decides whether I’m worth the trouble or not.

I start to turn away when he grabs my arm and jerks me to him.

“Fuck it,” he hisses, capturing my lips with his.