But her hands and her gaze stopped him, stilled his wolf.
He could see her vixen snapping at her, demanding to be let free, but that beautiful and delicate human face demanded calm and control.
His breath was ragged where hers was refined, as if reining in her beast was somehow easier. How was she able to contain her fox? Did she not feel the connection the way he did? The bond?
He had tomakeher feel.
He grabbed her and crushed his lips to hers.
She fought at first this time, but he could feel her fox sneaking forward, entering the dance.
He ran his hand along her back and brought her closer to him, letting her body slide along his pelvis so she could feel just how hard he was. He needed her so badly it hurt.
She moaned, completely oblivious to the fact they were still in the hallway, where anyone could see them. He knew from the way her body responded to him that this had nothing to do with putting on a show for somebody else. Not anymore. She shoved her fingers through his hair. Her tongue slid over his, fighting for control, challenging him further.
He heard the door bang as the doctor and his little blonde cling-on fled the room.
He pulled away for a moment to catch his breath before darting back to take her lips again.
But this time she pulled away. She wrenched herself from his embrace and stepped back, and his wolf howled with frustrated longing, his body still magnetized by her closeness.
They were alone in the hallway now, and all he wanted to do was push her up against the wall and show her exactly how she made him feel.
But when he swayed towards her, gaze fixed on her lips, she took another step back. “And now,” she said in a low voice, “you never touch me again.”
“After that kiss? Are you insane?”
“Given that I’m about to let you drag me to Flowering Dogwood where I’ll probably end up as an accent rug, clearly, yes. That’s not the point. I did that to show up my ex, and also to prove that you were wrong and you’re not my fated mate because we have no chemistry whatsoever. Obviously.” She glared at him narrow-eyed, daring him to challenge her.
He dared.
“Then why did you keep kissing me?”
“He was still standing there!”
He snorted. “Keep telling yourself that. The door slammed halfway through and we both heard him stalking off down the hallway.”
A thick strand of red hair slid into Krista’s face, and she tossed her head, quickly brushing it behind her ear. “Don’t flatter yourself. Fate may be a cruel bitch, but she’s not so cruel that she’d hitch my wagon to a manipulative, blackmailing son of a bitch who doesn’t even know how to kiss.”
Didn’t know how to kiss? She’d just devoured his tongue like it was candy.“What’s that?” he said, annoyed. “Excuse me, I was a little distracted because your nipples were staring at me.” It was a dick thing to say, but she’d stung him right in the ego.
Her nipples were indeed stiff little peaks, pressing against the fabric of her dress. “Rude!” she squawked, quickly crossing her arms over them.
Then she glanced over at Susie, who was staring at them from down the hall, starry-eyed.
“You’re a receptionist!” she yelled at her. “Quit staring at us and go recept!”
Susie danced off, singing, “He plighted your trooooth!”
Blake watched her go, brow wrinkling in confusion. “Do you have to be straight-up nuts to work here?”
“Yes, it’s an actual job requirement. But seriously. I need you to understand,” she said, staring up at him, “when we get there, you have got to follow my lead.”
He groped for the shreds of his self-control. “I’m highly trained, Krista. I know what to do in dangerous situations.”
She shook her head, eyes sparking with anger. “You don’t knowanything,” she said heatedly. “You won’t even see the danger until it swallows you whole and spits out your bones.”
