Page 48 of Ruthless Love

“You what?” I ask softly.

After a few pants, she tries again. “I wanted someone good. Someone who wouldn’t make it all about him. Someone who could give me ...” She blows out a long breath. “You know.”

A laugh rushes past my lips as I rest more of my weight on her body. That body-hugging skirt stretches with more give than I imagined. I wedge myself easily between her legs, and she instantly wraps them around me.

“Know what?” I ask, laughing as I stay a breath from her lips.

Her frustrated growl goes straight to my dick, and I give her pussy a tease of a thrust.

“An orgasm. Fine, I’d like someone to give me an orgasm. I mean, other than myself.”

Guilt creeps up on me. “Don’t you need other things from me?”

“Like what?”

“How about honesty?”

“Look, I don’t need you to tell me your deep, dark secrets. Although, I believe in a secret for a secret, so you owe me one,” she says, and I agree with a nod. “As far as honesty?”

She ponders it while my lips brush her cheek.

“I’m not asking because you’re a saint,” she says. “Quite the opposite. For you, dishonesty is probably an occupational hazard. Not because you want to. You have to. It’s your job. I understand how sometimes, you have to put your job before the truth. Or yourself even.”

I try not to look too surprised by her response, but I am. And not because it hits so close to the mark, but because she’s beautiful and honest, understanding and compassionate. And realistic. This one is the total package—everything I’ve wanted, gift wrapped in the body of a hot little goddess.

“Close your eyes,” I say softly.

Her mouth opens slightly as she obeys and her eyes fall shut. The thought of tasting her consumes me, and my lips press to hers. I start slow, testing the waters. Sliding my tongue in once, then again, exploring as hers touches mine.

The hum from her throat is intoxicating, a sound that encourages me to move my hand down her body to the soft skin of her thigh. I’ve barely moved beyond an eighth-grade make-out session when light whimpers rise from her mouth to mine.

For fleeting seconds that come and go, I see her in my life. Want her there. And the way her fingertips brush through my hair and down my neck makes me want to take her long and hard, and never let her go.

When I pull away, her nails are on my neck and I know she’s hungry. Aching.

“Austin,” she whispers, “I need you.”

I take her hands, pinning them over her head as I tease the line of her neck with my tongue. “Not yet, little baker girl. If you want me to break you of your bad Russian habits, I’m in control. Agreed?”

My lips move down her breasts, kissing a trail of heat until I reach her nipple still trapped beneath her clothes.

“Yes,” she says softly, panting a little as her lips tremble. “Yes, please, yes.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

EVIE

Austin’s kiss starts tender and sweet, and I try not to make too much of it. He’s just pretending, and I let myself fall for the lie because I want him so goddamn much it hurts.

When his kiss invades me harder, a rush of raw lust hits every part of my body. And when he pulls away, I can hear the urgent plea in my voice.

“Yes, please, yes.”

The way he studies me makes me realize why the clock hasn’t started.

“Sorry,” I say, then ask meekly, “Should we settle up first?”

His smile is warm, widening across his face to a sweet sexiness that relaxes everything inside me. “Keep your money. I’m more interested in a trade. I’m pretty sure I can cure you without it.”

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