Page 57 of Dare To Live

At the word play, my eyes lift and catch Arabella’s. A smile tips my lips up.

“What do you say, Princess?” My voice is soft. “Do you want to play … nice?”

“I do not want to play. Nice or otherwise.” Her words are delivered in a haughty tone, and she turns away. “I’m going to look at the rest of the art. I’ll join you when the auction starts.” She presses a kiss to her mom’s cheek and walks away.

I watch her go.

“It never changes with you two.” Elena’s voice drags my attention away from Arabella’s ass, and I turn my head to look at her mom. “Always bickering. It worries me that you’ll never be able to get along. One day I’d love to actually be able to spend time with you both in the same room.”

“I’d worry more if we weren’t bickering.” I pull my cell out of my jacket pocket. “Do you have her number? I forgot to get it while we were in the cabin.” I hand her my cell and she types it in. “Thanks.”

“Do not abuse it, Eli.”

I affect an innocent expression. “Would I?”

She snorts a laugh. “Yes, you would. Look, Clara Davies is over there. I need to speak to her.” She pats my arm. “Behave yourself.”

“Yes, Mom.”

The moment she’s out of my orbit, I look around for Arabella. I can’t see her, so I unlock my phone and tap through to messages.

Me: Red or green?

The response is instant.

Arabella: No.

Me: Coward.

Arabella: You’re an asshole, and I’m done.

Me: Bullshit. You never even came close to getting closure. Anyway, we’re not done. The agreement was we were done when I said we were done. And I never said it.

Arabella: You threw me out and drove away. That was you telling me you were done.

Me: We’re not done. Red or green.

Arabella: Fuck you.

Me: If you play the game, that will definitely be on the cards.

Arabella: No. We’re done. Over. Finished. Closure was had.

Me: Like fuck it was.

I make my way through the crowd of people admiring the artwork until I spot her blonde hair. Moving up behind her, I slip an arm around her waist and pull her back against me. She stiffens. I lower my head until my lips are close to her ear.

“What if I promise to make you come until you can’t walk?”

“No.” But her tongue snakes out to wet her lips.

“I’ll eat your pussy. That’s what you wanted, isn’t it? My hands on your tits, my tongue on your clit?”

“Go away, Eli.”

“Red or green, Kitten?” I lick the shell of her ear and slide my hand up over her stomach until I can cup her breast. I can feel her nipple pressing through the material. “You know you like my games. Play with me.”

“No.”

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