Free Bliss by Holly Hood, Maven West Page A

want them to do to me.”
    I was entranced. I wanted to hear more.
    “I can see right through those pretty brown eyes.” He traced my jaw line with his fingertips, leaning even closer, challenging me to pull away. With my head against the wall I stared him down. “Amazing eyes.”
    I swallowed.
    He cocked his head to the side, his lips inches away from mine. “You ready to give in?”
    Oh I was, but I was also stubborn. “Nope. If you want to kiss me then kiss me. I don’t beg.”
    “You say that now,” he teased, a playful smirk on his face.
    The moment was ours, the world ceased to exist and I didn’t hear anything but his voice egging me on.
    I lifted my chin. “I’m not going to kiss you.”
    “Why not?” He took me by the chin, bringing my lips to his. Softly he pressed his into mine, his other hand on my ass guiding me against him, pressing our bodies together.
    I pulled away. “I’m not going to chase after something that I can’t have.”
    He took my hand, resting it against his chest. I stroked his chest through his t-shirt. I could feel his heart pounding. “I’m right here. God damnit just give in.”
    I shook my head refusing again. He pressed his lips into my forehead settling on simplicity. “You’re a stubborn girl.”
    I looked down at the floor. “I need to tell her that I know. She’s not the kind of girl you want to involve yourself with. Let me tell her and then whatever it is you want to do I’ll give in.”
    Carter shook his head. “She’s not worth the drama, Morgan.”
    “She doesn’t deserve you,” I insisted.
    “That’s the first time I ever heard someone tell me that. You don’t even know me.” Carter shook his head.
    I pushed him away, laughing at his absurd response. “Then what is this?”
    “This is me liking what I see, it’s impulse.” He wouldn’t look at me. He knew he sounded ridiculous.
    “You win, Carter.” I threw my hands up. “Once again I am going to keep my mouth shut. I wish you the best with your career.”
    He grabbed for my arm. “Morgan.”
    I ignored him, and walked away.

Chapter nineteen
     
    “Morning, Morgan,” Dr. Lopez said as I entered the office.
    “Morning,” I said back, I slipped my purse into the drawer of my desk and settled into my chair.
    I rubbed my temples, worn out from the night before.
    Lilith settled in at her own desk, cheerful and ready to start the day.
    She shook two sugar packets for her coffee, like she did every morning. “How was your night?”
    I brushed my bangs out of my eyes. Carter’s lips forever imprinted into my mind after the night at the bar, I wondered why I hadn’t kissed him, because now that was all I wished I would have done.
    “Last night was a disaster,” I muttered, more to myself than Lilith. But she heard and she was staring me down waiting to hear the details.
    “You know that I’m always here to listen,” she said.
    I tapped my finger against my lip debating sharing my feelings toward Carter. How we hid in the dark of a bar ready to tear each other apart if only we had the balls to do so.
    “A friend of mine, she’s dating this guy and doesn’t appreciate what she has.”
    Lilith lifted a file from her desk. “Don’t you just hate that?”
    “I hate her,” I admitted. “She’s everything I strive not to be.” A cheater. A liar.
    Lilith raised an eyebrow. “I get the feeling there is more to this story.”
    I turned away, opening up my file drawer. “For sure. But nothing worth talking about, I just wish this guy would see her for what she is and dump her.”
    Lilith stood walking over to the fax machine. She sighed. “I hate this god awful piece of crap.”
    I sighed, standing up. “Just give it to me. I need something to do before I go off the deep end.” I stared at the paper, another trip to the agents on my agenda.
     
    ***
    The elevator doors opened and like every day the agency was crammed full of aspiring men and woman dying to land a gi g. I was sure