Page 60 of Calling a Cease-Fire

“Did you doubt me?”

My lips curved up at the challenge in her tone. Like I’d ever say yes to that question. “Never.”

“Good.” The word came out on a breath, and she shifted toward me, bringing her glass to her lips.

I held her gaze, watching as desire danced in the depths. A little bit of uncertainty and doubt lingered there too—almost a shyness that I was surprised to see.

I couldn’t stop myself from reaching out and gripping her sweater, gently tugging her forward between my legs. She let me, but her eyes stayed trained on her drink as she brought it to her lips again and took a long gulp. I wasn’t used to seeing her nervous or unsure of herself, and I had no idea how to proceed.

I threw my drink back in one swift motion, relishing the burn as the whiskey coated my throat. It felt great after the night we’d had. The fire and finding Lyla and then Adam…

I blinked and pushed away the memories, wanting to focus on Mia. What lay unspoken between us. I refused to believe she didn’t feel something for me like I did for her. The physical connection between us was insane, but even more than that, she’d opened up to me in the past few weeks and was willingly letting me in. How she’d held me earlier in the night, giving me comfort and taking comfort from me, cemented my feelings for her. It also cemented the fact that I was sure she felt the same way. I just wasn’t sure if she would ever be willing to admit it. She was stubborn as hell.

“Mia,” I murmured, tucking my finger under her chin and tipping her head back, forcing her to look at me. “What’s wrong?”

“I want to be selfish tonight.” She searched my face, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth before continuing on. “I want one night with you, Zack. I want to know how it feels to be the center of your attention. To feel you inside me, your hands and lips on my skin…”

I could sense a but as her words trailed off and she looked away.

“But you know I won’t settle for a single night?”

She nodded, and I weighed my options. On one hand, I could say no. Keep us strictly in the friendly—or not so friendly—category. Or I could offer another solution. One that could ultimately get me what I wanted, or lead to utter destruction.

Was I willing to risk my heart at the chance to convince her we could be something real?

For a chance with this woman who I was already quickly falling for?

It was a no-brainer. I’d lay my heart on the line a thousand times for just a single chance.

“How about a compromise?” I offered.

She raised her gaze back to mine and cocked one brow. “Compromise?”

“We can be together without expectations or labels.”

She started to shake her head. “That won’t end well.”

“Maybe.” I smirked. “But this torture isn’t any better. I want more than one night, and you want casual, so this is the only way that would work.”

She sighed. “Our friends can’t know.”

That part would be extremely difficult for me—I was horrible at hiding things from people I cared about—but I figured that would be part of the deal if she agreed.

“Okay.”

She studied me for a moment with a hint of hesitancy before throwing back the rest of her drink and discarding her glass on the counter next to mine. I couldn’t help but smile at her eagerness.

I brushed the hair back from her face and cupped her cheek. “Baby, we have all night, and the last thing I plan to do is rush this.” Because I had been dreaming about this night for months.

Heat flashed in her eyes, and she gripped my thighs, digging her fingers in. Her tongue swiped along her lower lip and my cock jumped in my pants, imagining her tongue licking along the shaft.

Using my other hand, I slid under the hem of her sweater, brushing it off her shoulder. Her skin pebbled under my touch, ready to be caressed by my lips. I skimmed up her throat, cradling her jaw in my hand, and tilted her head to the side.

“I want to spend hours exploring every inch of your body with my tongue.” I lowered my lips to her shoulder, dragging them up the curve to her neck. Sucking and biting the skin there, I felt her quickly ramping up. Heat radiated off her and her breathing came in short, ragged breaths.

She moved her hands up, fisting the sides of my shirt. I pulled back, bringing her face back toward me, and claimed her mouth. Like every other time, it was the perfect mix of fighting for control and the sweet surrender that always followed. Feeling her give in to me and soften every time gave me hope.

The sweater was already a heap on the floor at her feet, and even though I wanted to take my time, I wanted her black dress to join it.