Page 40 of Twisted Truths

So rather than tell her I’d have it no other way, that I want to do whatever I can to ease her pain, I just give her a gruff grunt and bite out, “Let’s go. We’re already running late because of you.”

A flash of hurt lands on her face, then something like steely determination creeps over her features. Without a word, she strides toward the door and holds it open while I carry our suitcases through.

“I can take mine,” she says as we walk toward the elevator.

“I’ve got it.”

We don’t speak as we make our way down to the lobby, wait for the valet to bring around the car, or on the ride to the private airport. Which should be fine. Should be what I want. But instead, it’s eating at me because I want to hear her lyrical voice.

Finally, when we get on the plane, she takes her seat across from me and checks her company phone, then looks at me. “Your three thirty had to cancel, so I’ve moved up your five o’clock call so that you can be done early if you want.”

It feels like a small balm to my soul, as inane as the words are.

But I still can’t cave to the look in her eyes. The one that says she wants to go back to last night’s Obsidian. So I simply close my eyes and feign sleep for most of the flight.

Hours later, we land at the private airport closest to Midnight Manor, and it’s clear to me that something shifted in Ariana’s demeanor while we were airborne. I can’t describe it exactly, but she’s carrying herself differently.

I suppose it should be no great surprise when we take a seat in my vehicle to drive home, and she immediately turns to me.

“I know what you’re doing.”

I ignore her, pulling out of the airport and onto the road.

“You’re pushing me away. We’ve both been ignoring whatever this is between us, whatever this pull is, but I think we should talk about it.”

Glancing over quickly, I see that she’s turned in her seat and is facing me, studying me.

“Last night, something terrible happened, and you were there for me. We connected in a way we haven’t before, something that felt like more than just a physical attraction, and now you’re running scared.”

I swallow hard, and my hands tighten on the steering wheel. Am I that transparent? “I’m not running scared of anything.”

“I think you are. And I don’t think it’s the first time you’ve done so with me. Last night proved it.”

I shake my head. “You’re young, Ariana. You’re making things up in your head, romanticizing things. There is nothing between us.” I signal and make a right off of the main road.

“So, finger fucking me the night you were jealous over my brother was nothing?”

“A temporary lapse of judgment.” My dick twitches from the words coming off her tongue and the memory of her hand down her panties.

“I don’t believe you.” She leans over the console and runs her tongue along the side of my neck, over the wolf tattoo. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that,” she whispers in my ear.

My eyes drift closed for a beat, and my hands tighten on the steering wheel. Her tongue felt like warm silk sliding over my skin.

“Get back in your seat,” I snap, but there’s no bite to my words.

“Make me,” she says, sliding her hand down my chest, my waist, until her palm settles over my now half-hard cock.

I bite back a groan as she rubs my cock. I’m a bastard because I don’t immediately stop her. I wait for ten, twenty, thirty seconds until I’m fully hard and pressing against the seam of my pants.

“You don’t want to do this.”

“I do.” Her tongue flicks my earlobe.

My foot presses down harder on the gas pedal, and the car launches forward, her teeth anchoring to my earlobe.

“I am not the man you think I am.”

Her fingers manipulate my belt, then the button of my slacks. “You say that, yet I’m not sure that’s true. You’ve put your worst foot forward with me. I don’t know why, I don’t understand it. But last night you showed me there’s more to you. If last night taught me anything, it’s that sometimes the person who presents themselves as the good guy is actually the opposite, and vice versa.” She slides the zipper of my pants down and over, careful of the hardness that lies underneath.

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