Free Wicked Release by Katana Collins

pushed at the hem of her shirt, revealing an open strip of soft skin. A sharp hiccup echoed in the quiet hall as Jess gasped to catch her breath between kisses. Desire had daggered her to the wall, rendering her completely useless, unable to move beneath Sam’s capable hands. His two thick thighs flanked either side of her leg, pressing against the burning area between her legs. Dampness flooded her panties and she moved her pelvis against him; anything to ease that throbbing ache that grew heavier with every passing moment.
    His erection pushed into her thigh, a promise and a reminder of all the things they’d shared a mere few days earlier. Without thinking, Jess gripped him through his pants, squeezing and running her palm along the outline of his shaft while grinding against his thigh.
    It wasn’t enough. She needed more. More of Sam. With fewer layers of clothing. Jess bit his bottom lip, sucking his tongue into her mouth and tasting all he had to give.
    Her eyes fluttered open, meeting his, wide and glistening. As though he hadn’t taken his gaze off her from the moment they started.
    â€œNot here,” Sam said, his voice heavier than before. He didn’t let her go and instead moved the hand that rested on her hip around her waist and pulled her into the nearby stairwell. The door slammed behind them, the sharp sound reverberating, and then they were surrounded by cold, echoing silence once more.
    â€œSam, we can’t—” It was a cry, a plea. Having him right here and now was everything she shouldn’t be doing. He was everything she shouldn’t want and couldn’t have, but her body wanted him even when her mind screamed no.
    He ran his tongue over his wide, full lips—his stare holding as much passion as his kiss had. “We absolutely can. Whether we should or not is a different story.” His curse was muffled as he ran a hand down his face, pausing to scratch at the stubble on his jaw. “Why are you still here, Jessie? You should be far away from Portland. That’s all they care about. That’s all they want. If I had known you wouldn’t have left I wouldn’t have—”
    â€œWouldn’t have what? Been honest with me?” she finished for him.
    Silence. Again. Except for that alarm blaring in her head.
    Jess stepped back, pressing her palms against the cool, painted cement wall behind her. It was a reminder of where she was, of what she was doing here and what the end goal was. None of which involved Sam. Not anymore. Not now that she knew the truth about this man. This man she thought she knew who had turned out to be her enemy.

9
    S am’s heart slammed against his rib cage, his blood rushing between his thighs, torturing his cock. And it was all Jess’s fault. But it was more than just the animal urge to fuck. He cared for her. Worried about her. Maybe even . . . loved her. He studied her as she pressed her hands against the wall behind her. Yeah, she was beautiful, but it was so much more than that. She made him laugh. She was tougher than nails and that was something he could respect in a woman. And she was smart; smarter than she ever let on in high school. The girl had gotten straight As but partied like a kid who was failing. He loved her. Holy shit . . . he, Sam McCloskey was in love. And if he didn’t get to tell her soon, he thought he might burst.
    But no. He couldn’t. She needed space. For her own safety—emotional safety as well as physical safety—the last thing she needed right now was for him to profess his love. It would only serve himself. And he had no desire to further break her heart or watch as her soft brown eyes filled with tears. Right now, Jess’s safety took priority and after they found this fucker, he could work on repairing the damage he’d created.
    Sam’s phone went off, echoing through the cement staircase, and he struggled to grab it from his pocket.