Forbidden
He always wanted what he couldn’t have…
Playing With Fire, Book 1
Forbidden desires, secret needs…that’s not what girls are made of. At least, that’s what Michaela’s past boyfriends told her when she revealed her darkest, dirtiest fantasies. She knows she’s better off without the exes, but she’s lonely—and horny. It doesn’t help that her roommate, Austin, is the most gorgeous man she’s ever laid eyes on. Too bad he’s bisexual…or so he says.
There’s a reason Austin hasn’t been with a woman in a long time. The only one he wants is Michaela. He’s fought his attraction for months, waiting for a sign, desperate to show her she’s everything he wants in a lover. One illicit kiss leads to an explosive night of sex that leaves her wanting more—yet afraid. But Austin is a patient man, more than willing to tear down her boundaries piece by piece. Exposing her to pleasures she’s never known.
Trust leads her to whisper her most deeply held fantasy. One that rouses a new emotion Austin didn’t expect: jealousy. Possessiveness. He’s the only man he wants in her life. And he’ll do whatever it takes to prove it…
Excerpt
Shaking her head, she started up the stairs, her legs growing more tired with every step. The last two weeks had been exhausting, overwhelming. So many things to learn. So many things to do. A nice dinner would be a joy. Especially since she’d been living on fast food lately. She wondered where Austin was taking her.
Opening the door, she sucked in a shocked breath, drinking in what was laid out before her.
The house seemed staged for seduction. Warm golden light glowed from the dim lamps. The shades were drawn, helping cast shadows throughout, and lit candles flickered on the coffee table, along the kitchen counter, atop the small dining room table.
Michaela shut the door behind her, leaning against it to take the scene in. Soft music played in the background, mellow and sensual. The apartment was actually clean—no thanks to her since she’d worked so much, the couch plumped and inviting, rich velvet pillows scattered across it.
“You’re late.”
She looked up, caught the broad shadowy figure standing in the kitchen doorway. Austin emerged from the shadows, breathtaking in a simple black button-up shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and faded jeans. She couldn’t move, could barely think as he approached her, his lips tilted upward, eyes crinkling at the corners just before his mouth broke out into that full smile she loved so much.
“I’m sorry,” she said as he stopped just before her. “Work has been hectic and I tried to get out of there on time, but Tania needed to go over something with me…”
He silenced her with the press of his index finger over her lips. She quieted, her lips parting when he traced them, his touch sending shooting sparks of electricity spiraling throughout her body.
“You need to relax. You work too much.” His velvety voice smoothed over her, made her limbs weak, her heart race. He was being kind, thoughtful and she’d been such a bitch.
She didn’t deserve this. She didn’t deserve him.
Clearing her throat, she forced the words out. “Did you make dinner?”
He laughed, the sound rich and inviting, and her panties grew damp. All because of his laugh. Lord, she had it bad. “I burn water. I ordered in. Your favorite.”
“Chan’s?” Their go-to for Chinese takeout. They both loved that place.
Nodding, he took her hand and led her to the table. It was set with her only placemats and her favorite dishes, cloth napkins that matched the placemats folded atop the plates. A cluster of cream candles burned in the center of the table, their wicks sputtering and flickering, and she turned to look at him, the surprise she felt surely written all over face.
“You did this all for me?” Her voice squeaked, and she felt her cheeks heat. Embarrassment flooded her that he would think of her like this and yet she had treated him shabbily.
“Yes.” He pushed the hair away from her shoulder, his fingers lingering on her bare skin. “We haven’t spent much time together. I wanted to make tonight special.”
“Thank you.” She went to him, stood on tiptoe and brushed a lingering kiss to his lips. “I’m starved.”
His eyes sparkled with interest. “I’ll bring dinner out.”
He waited on her, bringing out plate after plate of steaming food, all of their favorites and she figured he must’ve spent a fortune. The food was excellent, she spent the first ten minutes just consuming food, no time to talk. She couldn’t remember the last time they had ordered from Chan’s.
Austin acted like the perfect gentleman, asking her about work, and she poured her heart out, giving him all the details of the last two weeks. She couldn’t believe she’d kept all of this from him, had avoided him for so long. She’d done it out of fear, afraid that things would be forever changed between them and though they were, they still had this easy comfortableness together.
Yet she was aware of him as a man. A rather sexy man. The way his fingers wrapped around his glass, long and tapered, smoothing up and down. Reminding her of how they had touched her, glided over her skin, sunk deep inside her.
So not smart to go there. She squirmed in her chair, her panties growing damper by the minute, and he caught her staring, his gaze snagging hers, a knowing look on his face.
“I’ve missed you, Michaela.” His voice was soft, husky. “But it sounds like things are crazy at work.”
“They are.” She paused and looked down, drawing her fork across her plate, playing with the leftover rice. “I’ve been avoiding you, though. It’s not all been work.”
“I know.”
Michaela watched him, the way he slouched in his chair, his forearms resting on the edge of the table. He looked delectable. He always did, no matter what. “You didn’t have to do all of this for me.”
“I wanted to.” He sat up straighter, his expression going serious. “We need to talk.”
Oh, God, here we go. She should tell him how she really felt. It would be easiest now, with the table as some sort of barrier between them. She could spit it out and be done with it.
She only hoped he was receptive.