Free Dangerous Games (Aegis Group, #3) by Sidney Bristol

attention to the movie. Not like she should be, anyway.
    In her imagination, she reached over and grabbed Zain with the same tenacity Leia had when she stole a kiss from Luke to get to Han. Andrea wanted to kiss him like that, with all the confidence in the world. Instead, she was completely immobilized by just sitting next to the man.
    He glanced down at her, his mouth moving.
    Crap. He was speaking to her and she hadn’t heard a word.
    “Hm?” Her body flashed hot and cold in ever-shortening increments. The TV cast shadows across Zain’s face, but it could do nothing to hide the intensity in his gaze. Her tongue stuck to the top of her mouth and her nails dug into her palms.
    “Andrea?”
    “Hm?”
    She needed an answer, but her brain slowly mired in mental mud. Her thoughts stopped while her entire focus settled on one thing: Zain’s lips.
    He could have blown her off. Taken any of the girls back to his room tonight. Instead, here they were, staring at each other.
    Andrea knew what her fear told her to do, but what would Leia do?
    She lifted her hand, trembling as though she were hauling a fifty pound weight on her wrist, and cupped Zain’s cheek. She swiped her thumb over the puckered end of the scar and the rasp of his stubble was louder to her ears than the TV audio.
    Her intent couldn’t have been clearer, and he wasn’t putting the brakes on.
    Zain continued to watch her, his gaze heavy-lidded, lips parted. She watched his tongue slowly slick over his mouth. He could take over, kiss her until she didn’t know her own name, but then again, it wouldn’t cost her anything either. It was easier to be kissed than to kiss.
    She leaned closer and he bent his head, angling just right. Her pulse beat in her throat, threatening to cut off her oxygen, but she wasn’t stopping now.
    Their lips met in a soft brush of skin. The barest moisture clung to her lips.
    Instead of pushing her away, his hand came to rest against her waist, aligning their bodies. He leaned in closer and kissed her again, setting his lips firmly against hers. She inhaled the scent of him, sliding her hand around to cup the back of his head. Need washed over her, so potent her hands trembled. All at once, the kiss took on a new hunger. She slid her tongue past his lips and he dragged her body to his.
    Instinct won out and she curled her left thigh over his. She pushed her fingers through the short strands of hair on the back of his head with her left hand and gripped his bicep with her right. Her senses were on overload—from the taste of his kiss, to the scent of his aftershave and the feel of his body against hers. “Wanting” was too tame a word for how her pulse raced for him.
    “Andrea.” Her name was a plea.
    “Hm?” She kissed his lower lip.
    “We...we...”
    “Yes.”
    “Not that—I mean, not now.” He pulled back, the flickering light of the TV illuminating his face.
    Was he saying no? To kissing?
    Passion’s flame went out, leaving her cold and aching. She recoiled, drawing her hands against her chest, trying to curl in on herself.
    “Andrea.” Zain pinned her to the bed, his body on top of hers.
    His breath was warm against her cheek, his mouth so close. She couldn’t control the way her nipples tightened or the desire curling low in her belly. It was almost scary how overwhelming her single-minded want of him consumed her.
    But he didn’t want her.
    “Forget it.” She pushed at his shoulders.
    If they were going to have this conversation, she wanted a little dignity.
    “Andrea, I want you.” The single sentence confession sounded ripped from Zain’s lungs, his breathing ragged. Vulnerable.
    She blinked up at him but this time it was all shadows.
    Was he serious?
    Could someone fake a statement like that?
    Probably, but that person wasn’t her.
    “Then...” She couldn’t bring herself to speak, to say more.
    Zain kissed her cheek and shifted, settling his body over hers, his weight supported on either elbow.