Criteria (YA Paranormal Romance) (Wisteria) by Bisi Leyton Page A

hair was woven into a long braid.
    While she studied his fine features, she noticed his stunning blue eyes were also traveling down her long, slender frame. Eventually, they fixed on her breasts. Self-consciously, she folded her arms, but not because she was ashamed of how she looked. Fi had always been told growing up that she was knockout. She did it because he had a way of making her feel like she was naked. “Risking what?” She’d even forgotten what they were talking about.
    Not answering, his hazy gaze remained on the spot underneath her crossed arms.
    “Jack, you should’ve knocked before you came in here.” She shivered under his intense gaze.
    “Since when do I have to knock? You’ve always wanted to see me.” Closing the gap between them, he crawled onto the bed toward her. “Or, has that changed?”
    With him only millimeters away from her, it took all her concentration not to lose her mind. “We’ve talked about this. It’s not going to happen. Not while you’re with Yumi. She’s my best friend and she’s in love with you.”
    “This isn’t about Yumi; it is about you and me.” He curled his fingers through her brown hair.
    “There’s nothing between us.” She pushed him away. Not because she wanted to—nothing would make her happier than surrendering to Jack. She knew by now that he wasn’t going to end his relationship with Yumi. “Thanks for checking on me, but you can go now.”
    “Or, we can talk.” He sat on the bed next to her.
    She didn’t just want to talk to him and he knew this; she was addicted to his caresses and his sweet lips. “Listen, I should go and help with the chickens. Yumi gets mad when I don’t do my bit.” She slipped off the bed.
    Jack yanked her back. “You can’t get away from me that easily.”
    She tumbled onto the burgundy covers and lay there for a moment, deciding whether or not to follow through on her promise to leave him, even though she knew it was an empty threat. Next thing she knew, his copious lips brushed against hers. “Jack, why can’t you leave her? If you don’t, it will be over between us,” she muttered as convincingly as she could.
    “So, you want me to leave?” His breath was hot against her face.
    She shook her head.
    “Then shut up.” His blue eyes shone as he took her top lip between his teeth before pushing his tongue into her mouth.
    Fi groaned as she caressed his broad back. “I love you.”
    “I love you so much, Fi.” Lifting her up onto his lap, his mouth moved to her neck. “You know I’d never let you go. You do know that, right?”
    Hearing how possessive he was over her made her chest heat up and filled her with a deep feeling she knew must be pure joy. “I do.”
    “I promise when the time is right, you won’t have to worry about Yumi.” He undid the first button of her blouse. “I’ll tell her.”
    “You’ve said that for over two years.”
    “Jack?” Suddenly, Monty Diop, Jack’s very short Senegalese friend and second in command, burst into the room.
    “Idiot!” Jack cursed as he let go of Fi.
    “Why didn’t you knock?” Hastily straightening her clothes, she moved away from Jack.
    “I did and you didn’t answer. I’m guessing you were busy—again.” Monty glanced at the pair dryly. It hadn’t been the first time he’d caught them together.
    Fi wasn’t concerned he’d tell Yumi; after all he and Jack went way back, but his judgmental attitude made her mad.
    Jack joked about Monty being jealous, and that he secretly liked Fi. She didn’t see it. He just treated her like rubbish.
    “Leave the princess alone, or Yumi will kill you.” Monty was the only guy who got away with talking about Fi like that.
    Grabbing his shirt, Jack stormed to the door, dragging Monty over to it. “Get out!”
    “We’ve got visitors. I thought you might want to know,” Monty said as the door slammed in his face.
    “What?” He swung the door back open.
    “Visitors?” Fi’s face lit up.