Page 5 of One Reckless Summer

“On one condition,” I say, pausing on an inhale, trying to clear my head of all the filthy things I want to do to her mouth.

“What condition?” She smirks, puckering those bee-stung lips as she sways a little back and forth.

Don’t do it, Price. Walk away.

But I want her out of here, where only my eyes are on her. Conflict beats inside of me as I clench my jaw, the words stuck in my tight throat. My cock is hard as a lead pipe, as I imagine the impossible. Her. Me. Naked under a waterfall, washing her off after raw-dogging her on her knees in the dirt until she lost consciousness.

Words aren’t my friend in the normal course of things, but with her standing there staring up at me? I’ve flatlined.

My silence seems to defeat her. Her eyes drop, head turning back toward the dance floor.

“Never mind,” she mumbles, as the playful twinkle drains from her eyes, and it’s like a knife in my heart.

She spins on her toe to walk away, but instinct kicks in. I reach out and catch her wrist, feeling the tiny tick, tick of her pulse against the tips of my fingers.

Her rich brown eyes sparkle as they lift to mine, lashes fluttering, once, twice… She’s wearing glittering pink and gold eyeshadow framed by long lashes, and I’m getting lost in her eyes already.

She tilts her head, raising her eyebrows. “Were you going to say something?”

“One more drink,” I finally blurt out, holding up a single finger, “but then I get to take you home.” Her jaw drops, a smile taking over, but as much as I would kill to take her home, I clarify, “I mean, I get to make sure you get home safe.”

The smile doesn’t fade as she crinkles her nose. “I pick the drink, and you have to promise me something.”

“Name it,” I tell her before I can stop myself.

“After you take me home, there’s something I want you to do for me.”

Light dances in her warm eyes, heat returning to her cheeks. My heart taps at my ribs as she wrings her canvas purse in a death grip.

She rolls her lips together, red heat spreading over her cheeks as she glances around before pinching an eye shut like she’s telling me a deep secret. “Let’s just say, I hope you like cherries.”

Fuck. Me.

Static crackles over my skin, and I reach down, sliding my hand around the curve of her back. She squeaks as I pull those million-dollar tits tight against my chest. The movement is rough and her eyes round, but she starts teething her lower lip again, eyes locked on mine.

Just remember, don’t fall in love. That’s off limits.

Off. Off limits.

The only woman in my life is Hailey. There’s no room for anyone else. Not for at least the next twelve years.

But when she tosses her bag on the bar top, slipping her warm little hands slip upward, clinging to the back of my neck, joy filling her face, something inside my chest twitches.

“Ripe. Fresh. Sweet cherries,” she teases like a brat, and whatever defenses I had crumble.

I’ve never been good with limits. In fact, pushing them is where I excel.

Especially when it’s dangerous.

Chapter Three

Price

This can’t be happening to me. Not right now.

Apart from one drunken night I wouldn’t remember if not for a pretty fucking undeniable piece of evidence, women and I don’t mix. They don’t like me, and that’s fine because I don’t know the first fucking thing about what makes them tick.

But it’s not just women that are the problem, it’s human beings in general. I don’t understand them. I don’t get along with them. I don’t get this need to connect all the time, to constantly seek approval from the rest of the world.

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