Free Collide by Melissa Toppen Page A

close proximity of our bodies takes hold, the tension reaches a boiling point, but it's a completely different kind of tension. The kind that has my body strung tight and yearning to feel his flesh against mine. I don't even register how close our faces are until his hand clasps around the back of my neck, forcing my eyes to meet his.
    It takes everything I have not to gasp at the intensity of the deep blue eyes staring back at me. While he may claim that he doesn't feel the heat bubbling between us, just below the surface, his eyes tell a very different story. The way he's looking at me right now tells me everything I need to know. This man wants me just as badly as I want him.
    I'm frozen in this moment. My body is begging me to close the short distance between us and take his lips against mine but my mind is fighting me every step of the way. Feeling like I might suffocate from the thickness in the air, I position my hands on either side of his head and try to lift myself up but the hand holding my neck doesn't let me get far.
    “Zayne, I.....” Before I can say anymore, he flips us. Successfully pinning my body under his. The cool metal of the floor chills my overheated skin. Zayne hovers over me, his face just inches from mine. I can tell he's fighting some internal battle and from the looks of it, he's losing.
    “Fuck it.” He growls, closing the distance between us and crashing his lips down on mine. Within seconds we are a mess of tangled bodies and seeking tongues. I pull his dark hair roughly through my fingers as he drags my bottom lip through his teeth, a hiss escaping his throat.
    My whole body feels electrified, every follicle frayed, every nerve ending standing to absolute attention. I have never felt anything like the fire now raging through my entire body. An intense tightening in my core causes an involuntary moan to escape my lips. I can't fight against it. The need to feel him flesh on flesh becomes so overwhelming, I feel like my body is ripping apart at the seams.
    Just when I feel like I can take no more, Zayne abruptly pulls away and pushes to his feet. Turning his back to me, he paces the floor in front of me while I scramble into a sitting position and try to regulate my breathing.
    “Fuck.” He says, running his hands through his hair. “Fuck.” He says again, still not turning to face me.
    I quickly push to my feet and hesitantly step towards him. The moment my hand brushes against his broad shoulder, he jumps, spinning towards me, his face riddled with a combination of desire and absolute horror.
    “Oh god Grace. I'm so fucking sorry.” He says, shaking his head. “I knew better then to bring you out here. I thought maybe we could be friends. I thought maybe.... Fuck I don't know what I thought. I never meant for that...... Fuck.” He says, throwing his hands up exasperated.
    “It's okay. I wanted you too. It's my fault too.” I say, trying to calm the anger I see him fighting to contain.
    “It's not okay Grace. None of this is fucking okay. You are my best friend's little sister. And I almost.... Shit.....”
    “Stop.” I cut him off. Grabbing both sides of his face, I force his eyes to mine. “It's done. We can't change it. I promise you, Alec will never know about this.” I can see him visibly relax in front of me but it doesn't completely calm the storm raging behind his eyes.
    “I can't do this. It's not right. I can't be around you anymore. You drive me out of my fucking mind. You make me say and do things that I would never do. You make me feel things I shouldn't feel. There's no way around this Grace. I'm sorry but I need you to stay away from me.” He says, pushing my hands away from his face.
    I try to speak but I can't form any coherent words. I just stand there and watch him cross the short distance of the boat before firing the engine to life. I stumble back into my seat as the boat takes off through the water, the speed increasing quickly. The case of emotional