I can’t move—can’t think.
Then, he takes my other hand and presses it to his chest. His heartbeat races almost as fast as mine. My fingers tremble over the firm, unrelenting muscles hidden beneath, heat seeping through his shirt.
Fuck, he feels so good. I should kiss him. No, I should leave.
“Say something, Jenna,” he murmurs, his voice low, rough. “I can practically hear you thinking.”
My heart screams one thing. My head screams another.
“I… I don’t know.” My words falter. “I don’t want…” I take one step back. He follows. Until my back meets the cool surface of the wall and my resolve crumbles.
His thick calloused finger brushes my lips, his other arm wrapping around my waist, pulling me tight against him. I can feel him… hard and impossible to ignore.
Heat surges through me, my pulse pounding so loud it drowns out logic, reason, everything—except him. I’m completely consumed by him and the electric pull I’ve tried so hard to resist.
His lips barely brush the corner of my mouth, igniting a fire in my veins. “Then don’t think,” he whispers it like a plea I don’t know how to refuse.
“Tell me to stop,” he murmurs into my hair, his voice tortured. “And I’ll stop. I’ll stop—for you.”
I don’t. I can’t. Words are gone, my brain turned to mush, my body full of need. All I can do is stare into those hazel eyes like whiskey and wildfire, ready to burn everything down.
“You’re dangerous,” I whisper.
“And you’re going to ruin the hell out of me,” he groans. “Every. Single. Part.”
But in this moment, none of that matters. Nothing matters. No consequences. No right or wrong. Just this.
He pins me against the wall, his body pressing firm against mine, and my fingers tangle in his hair. His mouth crashes into me, and I kiss him with every ounce of pent-up emotion I’ve bottled up for months.
The tip of his tongue sweeps into my mouth. Teasing. Tasting. Claiming me like he’s done waiting. A needy moan escapes me as his grip tightens on my waist. He lifts meeffortlessly, and I wrap my thighs around him without thinking. His hands glide over my trembling legs. Then, with one swift motion, he spins us around and lays me on my desk. Papers scatter to the floor just like the first time we met.
His lips trail down my neck, each graze of his scruff sending sparks of pleasure straight through me. I’m burning for him, every nerve alive, desperate for more. When we finally pull apart, gasping for air, I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to breathe right without him again.
“Fuck, Jenna.” His voice pierces through me. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve wanted this… wanted you?”
God, this isn’t fair. I open my mouth, but swallow back the words I want to say. Why couldn’t he be a terrible kisser and make me feel nothing,instead of… everything.
As I step back, Jacob flashes in my mind, uninvited, yet here with us.
I’m going to hell.
And just like that, I’ve stepped through a door I can never close.
Dylan notices the shift in me. Of course he does. I’ve never been good at hiding how I feel.
“I have to go,” I mutter, as the weight of what happened slams into me. “No, you have to go. This is my office. Shit, no. I’ll leave.” My voice falls apart. “You need to get back to work, and I… I need to go home. Home to Jacob.” My stomach drops. “My husband, Dylan. My husband.”
I turn to walk away, but he takes my hand. “Please, don’t go like this. Don’t ruin the best kiss I’ve ever had. Don’t deny what we have because of our… circumstances.” His voice is raw, his eyes pleading.
“Wow, you’re good,” I say bitterly. “You always know exactly what to say.” I pause, my heart pounding. “It was amazing. Better than I ever imagined. But best kiss?” I shake my head.“Come back to planet Earth, Dylan. I’m married. I have kids. And this? This is wrong.”
I see the hurt in his eyes. Or is it defeat? Maybe I’m another challenge he can’t conquer. I don’t know, and right now, I don’t care. I need to get outside for air… air without him in it.
I walk out, leaving him standing there. My lips still tingle from his kiss. My body burns for his touch. And my heart is torn in two.
I should feel guilty. Ashamed. But all I feel is pain and confusion. Because… I still love Jacob.
Chapter 13: Texts & Possible Regrets
