Free Firebird (The Firebird Trilogy #1) by Jennifer Loring Page A

her personal space in an instant. The warm, woody musk of his cologne tantalized her with the notion she would not regret kissing his neck. She shied away a little because she feared his closeness, the desire to know what six feet five inches and two hundred twenty pounds would feel like on top of her, might encourage her to act. Another gulp. She’d be drunk in no time.
    “So let’s cut the bullshit and get to the real reason you’re here. You want more than a story.”
    “And we were doing so well, you narcissistic pig.” Stephanie grabbed her bag from the coffee table. “I’m not one of your fucking conquests. I’m leaving.”
    With a supercilious smile, Alex swilled the cocktail. “Bye, then.”
    “You think I won’t? Wipe that smirk off your face. I don’t have to be grateful for your attention. You have no intention of giving me the interview.”
    “Do you think I blew up at you the other day because this is a fucking joke to me? Sit your ass down.”
    “Do not ever tell me what to do.” She stalked across the room, her cheeks hot, and her hands shaking with adrenaline. When he grabbed her upper arms, she stilled. Fight was supplanting the instinct for flight as anger and lust battled inside her.
    “Jesus Christ, Stephanie. I’m not your father.”
    “Seriously, get off me.”
    Alex backed away, hands raised in a placating gesture. “Stephanie, don’t go. I…don’t know why I act like that.”
    “Call me tomorrow if you want to be an adult and help me do my job. Otherwise, I need to figure out what comes next. Good-bye.” She slammed the door and stalked to the elevator.
    Downstairs, she took a deep breath to gather her thoughts before starting the car. Or trying to. The engine clicked but refused to turn over, each tick mocking her like a tiny snicker. “Shit!” She banged her forehead on the steering wheel, then dug her phone out of her bag and dialed. “Alex. Do you have jumper cables?”
    “Car trouble?”
    “The engine won’t start. Do you? Or can you drive me home? It’s late, and I don’t want to wait for a tow.”
    Silence. She could almost see his smirk through the phone. “No on both accounts. But I have a guest bedroom. Unless you’d rather sleep in the parking lot.”
    “Seriously?”
    “You want me to drive to your place and back? That’s an hour and a half on a good day.”
    “Ugh. Fine.” She hung up. A cab would be too expensive, and even if there had been a hotel nearby, she couldn’t afford it.
    Stephanie knocked on his door so softly she hoped he wouldn’t hear. She’d be better off in the parking lot. No temptation. Alex was stubborn but not stupid. He wouldn’t invest so much effort into winning her back if she hadn’t encouraged him. The obdurate past would not allow them to go on with life. She should pray for another trade or that she could somehow break his spell; living in the same city under current circumstances depended on it.
    He opened the door, a drink in hand. “I’ll call for a tow in the morning and drive you to work.”
    “No. I mean, thank you, but people will get the wrong idea if they see me getting out of your car.”
    “Of course.” He rolled his eyes and stepped back to let her in.
    “I’ve been leading you on. It’s not fair to you.”
    With a hand on her arm, he escorted her back to the couch. “When did you stop?”
    “Stop what?”
    “Loving me. Why?”
    “Alex, I…” Her throat clicked when she swallowed, the words lodged there. “It’s a lot to explain. But that’s not what happened.”
    “Then what? God forbid you let yourself be happy.”
    “You’re awfully certain you can help me with that.”
    “So convince me I can’t.”
    His lips skimmed hers, urged them to open for him. Their tongues met in a sensuous gambol. She did not pull away. She did not stop him. And with each lush recoupling of their mouths, she lost a bit more of her resolve. Lost in wanting, his kisses obliterating for the time being any