Page 36 of Revenge Cake

She lifts a brow. “You’ve never gotten to that place with anyone.”

“Nope,” I respond instantly. “Not until you.”

She looks surprised, as if she expected to goad me with her repeated reference to my past. “You’ve never seen my anxiety at its worst. You might be speaking too soon.”

I snort. “Considering I once had my car vandalized, I think I can handle a little anxiety.”

She doesn’t believe me—I can see it all over her face—but it doesn’t matter. I can prove it to her. Now that she seems willing to give me a chance, all it takes is time. Time to prove that I’m not going anywhere.

“Would we live together?” she asks.

My stomach flips when her question registers. We’re in the hypothetical now. She’s moments away from giving in entirely. In an effort to conceal my eagerness, I say calmly, “It would make sense financially, but I’m open to whatever you’re comfortable with.”

She looks at me sternly. “If I sign a lease with you, you’re not allowed to dump me and head back to California a month in. I’ll hunt you down if you do try something like that. I’ll find a way to punish you, and I’ll make sure it hurts.”

I feel almost hysterical in my giddiness. Involuntary laughter erupts from my chest. “Well…you know I like it when you punish me, so…”

With that she lifts her hand to my nape and claws her nails into my skin, holding my head in place. She lifts her mouth to my cheek first, but that’s not her final destination. I know what’s coming. Her lips graze my skin, but the warmth of her breath trails from my cheek to my neck. She nips lightly at first, but then she sinks her teeth into the elastic skin and gives it a tug. I groan as she pulls away.

“I left a mark this time,” she says quietly. “You might want to start buying concealer. You’ll be getting at least five years of those.”

Five years.

Euphoria comes in a rush. I have to concentrate to keep my eyelids from falling shut. I have her for five years. It doesn’t even seem possible.

She looks startled when I press my lips against hers. After devouring her mouth, I trail kisses from her jaw to her neck.

I love her neck. I have five years of her neck.

I kiss her collarbone just before setting my mouth on her nipple. She sucks in a breath as I lick the smooth skin. Her nipples taste like her pussy. Is that true of all women? I never paid attention before. I feel like these are the only nipples I’ve ever licked. As I pull away, I stare at the brown, glistening skin, wet from my saliva.

I have five years of her tiny, perfect tits.

Five years of her.

I lift my head to meet her eyes. “I love you.”

Her expression softens. “I love you too.”

She really means it, and somehow I know in my gut that she felt it long before now.

But I needed this. I needed her to say it.

Relief washes over my body like a drug, turning my arms and legs into jelly. I collapse against her small body and rest my head on her shoulder.

I don’t have to worry anymore, and somehow I’m transported back to that first time I hiked Half Dome. Standing at the top and looking down, after a year of preparation. I’m not even sure if I saw Yosemite Valley. My reward was inward, a mixture of exhilaration and relief, and maybe even something more primal, like I’d conquered something.

After months and months of anguishing uncertainty, she’s finally mine.

CHAPTER 13

Present Day

Leilani

My heart pounds in a mixture of anticipation and nerves. Even with careful planning, there are a lot of unknowns, especially since I no longer have contact with Logan. Maybe class was canceled today. Maybe he was let out early. Maybe, god forbid, he’s so caught in his fevered infatuation with Keira that he’ll do irresponsible things like miss class.

Which brings me to the biggest unknown—the one I’ve tried not to think about since I wrote my revenge list. Maybe none of it will work. Maybe even if I execute the plan perfectly, and he sees me with Dean, talking and flirting and wearing this low-cut dress, he won’t care.

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