Page 10 of Slide

He frowned. “You’re wrong.”

His blue eyes weren’t all icy and cynical for once; they were kind of soft. Wonderful. He felt sorry for her, and she’d just been a bitch, taking her pain and frustration out on him. But it was easier that way. For her at least. If they were actually nice to each other, how would she keep her feelings for him in check? She wouldn’t be able to.

“Look, whatever. I have to go.” She turned to leave, but he grabbed her arm and tugged her out the door toward the steps that led to her apartment. “What are you doing?”

Adam ignored her and carried on up to her place, pushing the door open and pulling her in after him.

“What the hell, Adam?”

When he turned to face her and she got a load of the expression on his face, she snapped her mouth shut.

“You hate my guts, I get that. I’m an asshole.”

He moved in, and before she could stop herself, she’d backed up until her back met the door behind her. Hate his guts? He thought she hated him?“Hang on a minute—”

“But for five minutes, we’re going to put that aside and you’re going to tell me what the hell is going on with you.”

Everything inside her seized. “W-what?”

His jaw hardened. “You heard me.”

He ran a hand through his hair and, shit, he looked…pained. Worried. About her?

“I’m…there’s nothing…”

“Cut the shit. I saw. I fucking saw how upset you were down there, and it’s not just because your brother snapped at you. You’re tougher than that.”

Adam thought she was tough?

He ate up the distance between them in two long strides, stopping a mere foot in front of her. “Talk to me, Luce.” His blue gaze searched hers. “What’s going on with you?”

Who the hell was this? This Adam was starting to resemble the old Adam, the guy he used to be, the one she’d fallen for when she was a kid. That was the last thing she needed. Her head was already a mess. She didn’t need him confusing her, messing with her feelings like this. A siren started wailing in her head. Stop signs, red flashing lights, flickered like a strobe in her mind. He had no clue what this could do to her. Showing her this side of himself again.

“There’s nothing to tell.”

His nostrils flared, eyes sharpening. “Bullshit.”

He didn’t budge, didn’t break eye contact, waiting for her to explain the tears he’d seen in her eyes, the reason for her hasty exit from school. She couldn’t tell him any of those things. The need to get away thrummed through her and she shoved at him, trying to get past. He closed in even more, crowding her, towering over her. His hard, lean body pressed against her softer one.

He dipped his head. “I saw your tears.” He slid his fingers under her chin, tilting her head back, and looked deep into her eyes. “Who hurt you, baby? Just say the word and I’ll make them pay for it. I promise you that.”

Lucy drew in a sharp breath, heart racing, banging against the back of her ribs. God, the fierceness in his expression, the heat. He meant it, every word. That’s when she became aware of the way her breasts were pressed against his chest, and the way her nipples had grown impossibly hard. How the heat of his body warmed hers. The denim of his jeans rubbed against her bare legs.

The way the skin of his fingers felt rough against her throat, and hot. Moving in that moment, hell, breathing was an impossibility. Then he swiped his thumb down her jaw, from her ear to her chin. The intensity in his gaze changed, shifted into something else, and she could barely believe what she was seeing.

Heat.

No, fire.

So hot she felt scorched from it.

He made a harsh sound and moved closer, just a fraction.

His cock pressed against the softness of her belly.

Oh God. He’s hard.

“Adam?” She whimpered, unable to cage the needy sound another moment.