locker. They’d been on a hike, a picnic, out to dinner or lunch almost every day for the past five days. And he hadn’t touched her in any way! No kisses, no touching, he hadn’t even put his strong hand on the small of her back like he had that night at the burger joint. Nothing!
“Are you okay?”
Tyla’s body tightened with anticipation at that deep voice. “Go away, Saeger,” she whispered.
He didn’t. Of course he didn’t go away.
Moving closer, her muscles tensed when he put a hand to her back. “What’s wrong?”
She spun around, growling with her sexual frustration. “You! You’re what’s wrong! You and your no-touching policy!”
He’d suspected that was the issue. He’d even told himself to back out of the locker room, to leave her alone. They’d been together every day for the past week and he was losing sleep, he wasn’t eating well, and he was snapping at his company directors… all because he wanted to pull her into his arms so badly.
Every day, he’d told himself to stop seeing her, to leave her alone. And every time he dropped her off at her apartment, he’d suggested another date, another outing.
Seeing her walk into The Rotten Apple tonight, he’d noticed her grim expression, knew what she was going through because he was feeling it as well. He’d told himself to leave her alone, to let her just get to work.
But she’d looked so forlorn.
“I know that it isn’t ideal. Maybe we shouldn’t date anymore,” he said and shoved his hands into his pockets.
Tyla’s mouth fell open with that suggestion. “You don’t want to see me anymore?” she asked, her voice weak even as she tried to hide the hurt behind her question.
Hell no! That wasn’t even close to what he wanted! Saeger shook his head. “That’s not the issue.”
She stuffed her backpack into the locker, so angry she could barely speak. “Then what is the issue? What’s so wrong with us going out on a real date? Actually kissing and seeing where things go from there? You won’t even touch my back anymore!” She threw her hands up into the air. “It’s driving me crazy!”
Her flashing eyes and that pink sweater were his undoing. Well, that and the sexual frustration reflected in her eyes. It was too much!
Saeger couldn’t hold back the growl as he trapped her delectable body against the metal lockers. Their bodies weren’t touching, but he loomed over her, a hand on either side of her head as he leaned down closer to her. “No, I’m not going to touch you. And I won’t kiss you either. We’re dating. That’s it!”
She tried to push her way past him. “No! We’re not dating! I’m not going out with you again!”
“Fine!” he roared, furious that she was pulling back. No, he didn’t like the way things were either, but at least he got to be with her. He got to bask in her smile and enjoy their conversations.
She inhaled sharply and fisted her hands at her sides so she wouldn’t punch him. “NO! It isn’t fine! It is horrible and not right! If you don’t want me, then just say it! But don’t keep taking me places and pulling away whenever …”
He was just as furious! “You think I don’t want you? You think I don’t torture myself at night, thinking about stripping off all of your clothes, seeing every part of you in my bed, my hands running over your skin, exploring every inch of your body and finding out where you like to be touched, what your skin tastes like here, on your neck as opposed to here,” his hand dropped to her waist, “on your stomach.” He leaned in lower. “And everywhere!” he growled low and furious.
She reached up, wanting to touch him, just his jaw or his cheek. But he pulled back as if she’d burned him and he shook his head. “No Tyla. If you touch me, I’m liable to burst into flames. I want you. More than any other