Page 28 of Alpha Bait

"It doesn't matter if it was good. It shouldn't happen again."

"That means they were good though."

"Richard, get out of here. I'm here to buy art, not discuss this with you."

"Right, I should get Jamal on the phone..."

He pulled out his phone and I reached out, smacking it from his hand. He picked it up with a cheeky grin on his face.

"You're ready to answer my question, then?"

"Yes, the kisses were good. It's still not happening again. I will do anything for you to not tell Jamal."

"Kiss me again."

"Fuck off, Richard!"

He chuckled, "only joking."

"It's not funny! We aren't ever going to kiss again because we aren't ever going to speak again. So if you'd like to keep your balls, you'll get out of my way."

"Oh, that will be a headline. Indie Holloway attacks Richard Carmichael in Tribeca. How do you think your mother would feel about you starting trouble?"

"I'm not starting trouble. You are."

"Trouble? This is only a conversation."

"You're insufferable."

"I've been told," he replied, "I've also been told I'm a good kisser."

"Beginning to regret that."

"All I want is the truth, Indie. If I weren't who I am... if you weren't who you were... would you really turn down a date with me?"

I glanced up at him, his brilliant ocean colored eyes fixated on my own, causing heat to rush to my face. What was the point in him chasing after me like this? What was the point of his questioning? We couldn't wish ourselves to be other people. We couldn't pretend we were in different families.

"It doesn't matter what could have been. I'm a Holloway, you're a Carmichael."

"So even if we could be perfect for each other, you won’t give me a chance?"

"Perfect for each other?your family is made up of thieves and criminals. There's no way in hell we'd be perfect for each other."

"The Holloways are always innocent I presume?"

"We might not be perfect, but we don't steal. We don't betray our own. And I won't betray my own, certainly not for you."

"You really hate me then? From the bottom of your heart, you'll deny yourself pleasure because you just hate me that much?"

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