Page 40 of Wild Fire

“Of course it is,” he says, his voice low and firm. My cheeks heat, my cock hardens, and I think I feel dizzy. “It’s frustrating, isn’t it?” he says, his gaze darkening. He doesn’t touch me. Doesn’t press me against the truck, though I can’t help but think about how I wish he would.

How I wish he would kiss me again and make me feel like he did the last time I saw him.

Powerful.

“When you don’t get what you want.”

I gape, not at his words, but at his tone. It’s not sweet or soft or even sympathetic. It’s full of authority. And something about that awakens a part of me I’ve only ever felt in his presence.

“Yes,” I growl as I push him. He moves back a couple inches, but doesn’t stumble.

“Does that feel good?” he says, that sharp tone like a knife but also strangely… soothing.

He advances on me like a shark, making me stumble back, and I growl in response.

“Fuck you, AJ.”

He grins as he backs me up against his truck, and I move to push him again, but instead, my hand wraps around his throat and before I can even grasp what is happening, I’m spinning us around and slamming him back against his truck. His gaze holds mine and his lips part as he lets out a low chuckle.

“Make you all hot and bothered?” His voice is some weird mix of tempting, bitter, and sexy as hell. Like he likes this.

Like he wants this.

Like he wants me. Like this.

I don’t know how I feel about that, but my cock doesn’t seem to mind one bit judging by how fucking hard I am all of a sudden.

When did that happen?

“What do you want to do to me, Nate?” He doesn’t move, his body still beneath me. I feel his pulse, racing in his neck against my palm, feel the rise and fall of his chest. My hand on his throat…

It’s a strange sight, but I can’t deny it feels good.

Really, really good.

“Do you want to hurt me?” he asks.

“No.” The word comes easily. I don’t want to hurt him. I just—

“What do you want?” The authority in his voice is still there, but it’s different. It’s not commanding, it’s almost pleading.

“Don’t think,” he orders. “Just say it.”

I growl as I let go of him and move back. His throat is pink from my grip, and I suck in a breath.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

AJ smirks, shaking his head. “You didn’t hurt me.”

I look at his neck, unable to take my eyes off of the pink handprint.

“I know my limits,” he says, that authority coming back as panic sets in.

My breath catches.

What’s happening to me?

He doesn’t move as I take a step back. The world feels like it’s closing in, and I feel like I can’t breathe.