“I shouldn’t have hugged you. It was unprofessional.”
“I thought we were taking a break from professional.”
She reared her shoulders back and looked him in the eye. “Are you going to let me go?”
“As near as I can tell, you’re holding on to me just as tight.”
She rolled her eyes—childish from most women, adorable from Melanie. “I’m trying to keep myself upright.”
He was certain he’d heard every word she’d said, but her lips were so tempting and pouty that it was hard to grasp details. Mostly he wanted this to keep going. “Then stop being upright.”
* * *
Before Melanie knew what was happening, Adam was kissing her. And like a fool, she kissed him right back.
Melanie had all kinds of resolve until the kiss. Good God... His mouth and hands and his broad, taut frame. He was temptation, served up on a silver platter. He was the fuel to her fire—bodies pressed together, her body weight against his, her lips absolutely starved for more. The fire inside her finally had what it had waited to feed on.
His lips were impossibly gentle, even when there was no mistaking his powerfully male intentions. He wanted her. He was in charge. She felt it in every grasp as his hands slipped under her sweater, cradling her waist, his strong arms effortlessly rolling her to her back. He kissed her cheek, trailing to her jaw and the delicate spot beneath her ear—the spot that made electricity zip along her spine. She arched into him, eyes closed, mind floating in the nether, between the present and her past.
The night she shared with Adam hadn’t been a dream. She hadn’t built it up in her head—kissing him really was unlike kissing any other man. Sublime, a never-ending moment of pleasure to sink into. He was real. This kiss was real. Perfect. She hadn’t spent the past year aimless. She’d spent the past year missing this kiss.
His leg pressed between hers, white-hot friction in just the right place. Adam was the last man to touch her there, to fill her every need. He was the last man she’d wanted like this. It was almost too perfect. Could they start where they left off? Forget the past year? Erase it?
“I’ve wanted to do this since you walked in the door last night,” he mumbled, unbuttoning her blouse. “The minute I saw you again, I had to have you.”
She drank in his wonderfully possessive words, his strong hand gliding across her stomach. She had to have him, too. They were on the same page, except he seemed to be reading ahead—everything he did was exactly what she was hoping for. He trailed his finger along the lacy edge of her bra, ever so slightly dipping it beneath the fabric, bringing her skin to life.
But her brain barged into the conversation. What in the hell are you doing? You can’t do this. You need this job. Didn’t you spend the past year vowing to never allow a man the chance to destroy your heart and your career in one fell swoop?
Her body warred with the logic. But I want him. I’ve waited a year for him. Nobody would ever have to know.
But you would know.
Adam’s hand was on her back, at her bra strap. Pop.
Oh, no. “Adam. Stop. We can’t.” She expected him to groan in frustration, possibly even push her back in disgust, but he didn’t.
“Are you okay? What’s wrong?” He cupped the side of her face, washing his thumb over the swell of her cheek.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, but we can’t. We can’t do this.” She shut her eyes, needing a break from the allure of his mouth, especially when his breath was brushing her lips. She had to collect her thoughts. “I never should’ve let it go this far. It’s just that...” She stopped herself. The more she explained, the stupider she would sound. And eventually she would have to admit that if she had her way, if her job didn’t mean everything and if she could suspend belief and think for a second that Adam would want her for more than a fling, they’d be upstairs in his bed right now. They would be making memories that put the first night they shared to shame.
“It’s just what?” he asked. “Did I do something wrong?”
How could he still be so calm? She was about to frustrate the hell out of him. Surely he had to realize what was happening. She felt him against her leg, hard and ready, and yet he was worried that he’d done something wrong. “I’m sorry. It’s just not right.”
“I don’t understand. Do you have a boyfriend? Because I never would’ve made a move if I’d known that.”
“No, I don’t have a boyfriend. This is just wrong. I signed a contract. It would be a mistake.”
“A mistake.” Adam sat up, distancing himself from her, creating a cold and uncrossable divide. Maybe that was for the best, although it didn’t feel like the best. It felt awful. “You really have a way with words when you aren’t concerned with the public relations spin, don’t you?”