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“It’s a good thing we aren’t stuck here during the heat of the day. Or we’d be toast without that air conditioning.” He shakes his head. “It must be one more service they’ve cut off for the summer. Though, I suppose it makes sense. What with people not being here all the time.”
“Yeah. It makes sense.”
Unlike the way I’m finding myself increasingly drawn to Zack and his broad shoulders and strong jaw. Was he always so… sturdy? Or is this another benefit of growing up?
Either way, I’m clearly losing my mind. I must be developing Stockholm Syndrome. Or maybe there’s a gas leak somewhere in here. There has to be a logical reason—something beyond my control—that’s making me look at Zack like he’s a piece of meat.
A delicious, savory piece of meat that I’d like to nibble on slowly. Paired with a nice merlot.
Shit. I really am losing my mind.
Zack steps toward me again, and I catch my breath. “Did you want me to give you a boost so you can hop up on the ledge?”
My gaze drops to his lips. I unconsciously rub mine together, which draws his attention. For a moment, time seems to stop. The air grows even more still. As if we’re two magnets that have finally been turned in the right direction after facing opposite ends, we lean toward each other.
My lips part as I feel his breath whisper across them.
I don’t know what we’re about to do. But I can’t seem to ignore this sudden pull toward him.
SIX
SAMANTHA
My eyes flutter shut. The air around Zack and me seems to sizzle and snap. This time, it isn’t from lobbing barbs back and forth. Each of us trying to leave a mark on the other with every verbal lash we make.
It’s an entirely different kind of tension. One that is purely carnal and surprising in the fact that it doesn’t feel as surprising as it should.
Has this been the source of every argument in this ongoing war between us? Have we exchanged harsh words instead of hot kisses? Can this decade-long feud really be chalked up to something as simple as… lust?
Only, there’s nothing simple about the desire burning inside of me. Embers that have sparked into flames even brighter and hotter than the ones from the bonfire blazing outside.
It’s so consuming that I can hardly think straight. Which is saying something. My mind is pretty much racing from the moment my eyes open in the morning until my head hits the pillow at night.
We aren’t even touching. Not yet. But the want is so strong—the need is already so firmly in place—my body is already tingling. It’s as if his fingers and lips have already traced paths over every inch of my skin. Leaving no part untasted. Teasing and tempting, bringing me so close to the brim of passion it could boil over at any moment.
Is it the same for Zack? Could he… want me? Or is this a case of proximity and convenience?
As Zack’s lips lower to mine, a cold shiver runs up my spine. It isn’t enough to completely douse the desire inside of me, but it does put a damper on it. Enough that I can think about the consequences of what would happen if I narrow the physical distance between us until it’s gone.
My eyes fly open. “What are we doing?”
Zack opens his eyes more slowly. “What do you mean?”
His mouth is still close to mine. So close I can feel the way his lips curve into that infuriating, yet oddly sexy smirk. It’s so close, I can feel every one of his words on my lips even more strongly than I can hear them.
My heart pounds a little faster. Even as a voice in my head screams, “Seriously, what the hell are you doing?” it’s tempting to tell it to shut up and give into my baser desires.
But the voice of reason is just loud enough to hold me back. But not loud enough that I pull away completely.
“You know what I mean.” I swallow hard, pretending not to notice how loud my heart seems to be pounding in my ears. “What are we doing?”
“Well, I’m not an expert in kinesics, but it seems to me we’re just two people. Standing here talking.”
Never mind the fact that we’re two people talking with their lips barely an inch apart, if even.
“I’m surprised by you.”
“Oh?” The single word from Zack comes out as a long, warm breath that sets a fresh flutter through me. “How so?”
