Playing With Fire

Chapter 21 - He doesn't want me

The sweetness of her words did him in. He passed the line from a damn fool to a huge idiot when he let his desire for the sweet little Angel in front of him take over. He lowered his mouth. She knew it was coming. He could tell by the shock mixed with passion in her eyes. Stupid as it was—as much as he knew he'd regret it later—he couldn't stop himself from tasting her. Shahru touched his lips to hers. The second he touched her soft, plump mouth he lost himself to the hunger inside him. He pushed his tongue past her lips to swim the depths of her mouth.

Damn, it had been a long time since he'd kissed a woman like this. And none of them had tasted as delicious as Angel did. A soft sigh whispered from the back of her throat before her tongue twined with his, giving and taking, exploring his mouth like he did hers. The towel dropped to the floor as Shahru molded his body to hers, pushing her against the wall. She touched him everywhere like a hungry lioness devouring her prey. Her eagerness reignited a fire in him that had been dormant for a very long time.

He wanted to take her, slow and easy, exploring every square inch of her body for
hours on end. His usual quickie in-and-out jobs wouldn't be enough to sate his desire for this woman. Shahru eased his mouth far enough away to nip at her bottom lip. "Sweet Jesus, you taste good, Angel."

Kajol moaned and sighed, her head tilting back to give him access to her slender neck. Damn, he loved this woman's soft, feminine body. Her smooth skin all but melted like butter beneath his kisses. Shahru licked at her tender flesh, breathed in her floral scent mixed with feminine arousal. For the first time in five years he felt intoxicated ... high ... except this time it was from a woman instead of a bottle. "I want to eat you up. Every inch of your body. I've wanted you since the first time I set eyes on you."

Shahru bit at her neck, alternating between kisses, nibbles and licks. Her hand twined through his hair enticing him farther.

"Shahru ... Please ... Make love to me, Shahru."

Shahru stopped dead.

His head swam with painful memories. A tidal wave knocked him down, drowned him in the past as her words ... Juhi's words ... replayed over and over in his head.
"Make love to me, Shahru."
As if shocked, Shahru lurched away from her. Kajol stood there, panting, obviously as turned-on as he'd been just seconds before. The passion he'd seen her in eyes just minutes before died, replaced by a sadness he'd put there. He'd hurt her. That easily, he'd hurt her. A pain seared his chest.

She stared at him, confused, hurt, embarrassed, and he couldn't do a damn thing
about it.

"That was a mistake."

Her lip trembled.

"Jesus." Shahru ran a hand through his hair. He needed to get out of here. Needed to find something to do, something to keep him as far away from Kajol as he could get.

"I have to go." Shahru picked up the towel and handed it to her. "Make yourself at home. I'll be back later." He walked away from her. When he reached the end of the hall, he turned. He hated himself right now. Shit, he always hated himself. "I'm sorry, Angel." With that he walked out of his apartment, leaving her alone in the hallway.

Shahru headed straight for his workroom. It was the only place he had to go, the only place he wanted to go besides the place he'd just left. Guilt and Anger ate a hole in his gut as he opened the blinds to the small window. He picked up a piece of wood and a carving tool, keeping his hands busy, chipping away at the lumber. He'd completely lost it back there, first to his need, then to his past. Kissing her, touching her ... damn, he'd never felt anything like it. She melted to his touch, been willing to give him what he wondered if she'd ever given to another man.