Free [06] Slade by Teresa Gabelman

help it. He was too handsome for his own good, and dammit, it wasn’t fair. How was she supposed to look at him? Hell, she had even caught the other women glancing his way when they already have handsome Warriors who adore them.
He cocked his eyebrow at her, his grin curved his full lips. “Probably the same way I’m looking at you.”
Okay, that confused her. He had made it clear to her and everyone else, there was and would never be anything between them, yet he was flirting with her. She was going to go insane soon and it was going to be all his fault. Not being able to sit still, Jill rolled off her knees and stood up, and then pointed at him. “You’re driving me crazy.”
“Good, because fair is fair.” Slade kept his relaxed position on the bed, which only irritated her more.
“What does that mean? Fair is fair?” Jill threw her hands up, and then dropped them to the top of her head. “There is nothing fair about any of this. Okay?”
When he didn’t say anything to that, but sat staring at her with that grin still in place, she dropped her hands to her sides, clenching her fists.
“What do you find amusing, Slade?” Jill’s voice remained mostly calm, but her insides were going crazy, making her want to jump out of her own skin. “That the poor little half-breed wannabe Warrior can’t even remember a question you asked because she was too busy staring at you wondering what it would be like to be kissed, and not just a little kiss, but kissed by you? Is that amusing to you? I’m screwed, so I’m not amused. You can have any woman out there, but for me there is not a man compared to you anywhere in this fucked-up world; so yeah, I’m screwed because I don’t want any other man. I want you. Have wanted you since that first day you pulled Jeff off me and I turned to see you. Do you know how hard it is to be around someone you want so badly when all they do daily is remind me and everyone else there will never be anything between us? Well, it’s harder than anything any one of the Warriors could throw at me during this damn initiation.”
Jill stood in the middle of the room after her little rant, wondering where in the hell that came from and why the hell she let it spew from her mouth. Her gaze met Slade’s and she wished she could suck every word right back into her stupid mouth. She had never seen him look more intense than he did at the moment, and his grin was absolutely gone.
“There. It’s out in the open and nothing is left unsaid. Now you can go spread the word to the other Warriors and laugh at my expense, but no one can say I’m a coward for not saying what I feel.” Jill tilted her head and when he still didn’t say anything, just stared at her with that intense glare, she turned toward the door. “I’ll leave you to stew on that…while I go kill myself,” she whispered the last part, not really caring if he heard her or not.
Before she could open the door, his large hand appeared above her head keeping the door closed with his strength. Jill kept her face toward the door. She may not be a coward for saying what she said—stupid maybe, not a coward. No, the coward part came when it was time to face him.
“Turn around.” It was a harsh demand that sent shivers down her spine in an erotic way. “Now!” he growled.
Jill did, but kept her eyes closed. She felt him all around her, his energy and power suffocating. Taking a deep breath, his unique smell hit her senses, making her shiver.
“Open your eyes and look at me, Jill.” Slade’s demand sounded far away. Slowly, she opened her eyes, bringing them up at a leisurely pace devouring his hard chest, thick corded neck, strong square jawline, full kissable lips, perfect nose and finally to his sexy eyes that were dark and searching.
“I didn’t—” she whispered, but his words stopped her.
“Shut up.” His demand cleared her foggy mind.
“Don’t tell me to shut—” Her words were cut short as he slammed his mouth down