The Arrangement Anthology by H. M. Ward Page B

nature. I’m sorry, Avery . It won’t happen again, not unless you ask me to kiss you.”
    As he speaks, his warm breath breezes past my ea r. I shiver in his arms and feel him smile. I nod. The knot in my throat makes it difficult to speak.
    Sean holds me like that for a moment and then asks, “May I ask why that particular action is off limits?”
    I feel h im breathing against my back. Sean ’s pressed his body against my back and holds me tight. “Only if I can ask what you originally wanted this weekend.” I glance at him .
    “Ah, then it seems we are at an impasse .” Those glittering blue eyes conceal his thoughts.
    I nod. Damn straight. I’m not spilling my guts if he won’t spill his.
    Sean’s voice is deep and rich. “I suspect the reason, but assumptions usually don’t turn out well.”
    “Are you calling me an ass?” The corners of my mouth tug up. Seriously? What’s with him?
    S e an laughs like he has no idea what I’m talking about, and t urns me towards him. “What?” The smile reaches his eyes.
    “You know what happens when you assume, don’t you?”
    Cocking an eyebrow at me, he tilts his head and tuts , “Grade school humor? Really? Is that what this night has deteriorated into?” S e an shakes his head and sits back down, slumping back into the seat.
    I shrug my shoulders and step toward him. “It might be different if you told me what you wanted. I might want that , too.” I cross my ankles and gaze at him. Whatever plans he had for the night were blasted to bits when I walked through the door.
    Darkness drifts across Sean’s eyes, like he’s remembering something that he wants to forget. It changes his confident stance and his shoulders slump a little bit. His chest tightens along with his throat. The muscles strain as he tries not to react. I didn’t mean to do that to him. I know it‘ s from what I said. I feel horrible about it and want to take away the pain in his eyes.
    I walk toward him, not having a plan, just doing whatever feels right. “Sean,” I say softly. When he doesn’t look up, I put a hand on his shoulder . Still no reaction. I lift one leg gingerly and straddle his lap. That gets his attention. His eyes flick up to mine. A warning shoots through me, but I ignore it. There’s something dangerous about him, I can sense it.
    I’m st anding over Sean and slowly lower myself until I’m on his lap, facing him. I rest my wrists at the back of his neck and look into his eyes.
    Sean doesn’t move. He doesn’t say anyt h ing. I tangle my fingers in the curls at the base of his neck and lean in close. Heart pounding, I press my lips to his cheek. I repeat the action , and do it again and again , until I reach his neck. My stomach twists as the space between my legs grows hotter. I tilt my hips, and try to shift my weight on his lap, but Sea n stops me.
    Watching my face, Sean takes both of his hands and slips them under the hem of my dress. His hot palms run over the outsides of my thighs until they rest on the curve of my butt. S e an holds me tight, and pulls me higher onto his lap. That’s when I feel his hard length through his pants. I gasp and dig my fingers into his shoulders.
    Sean doesn’t smile. Instead, I have the Sean from downstairs, the one who’s all dark with no light in his eyes. H is fingers press into my skin and he skims the edge of my lace panties .
    Neither of us speaks. Sean watches me, always keeping his gaze on my lips as he tilts our hips making his erection rub against my thin panties. I can’t hide how much I like it. Cupping my ass, he pulls me against him and then I push back. I’m writhing in his lap, my eyes locked with his. My body aches for his touch. I’m not satisfied with his hands on my bottom. I want them on my breasts; I want them all over me; inside me. I lean my head back and rock against him. Arching my back makes my breasts press against my bra. I moan out loud, and his name slips from my mouth.
    That is the