Page 91 of Dare To Live

“You’ve been drinking, too.” Her voice wobbles.

“Drinking, yes. Drunk, no.”

She huffs and turns her face away to look out of the window. I keep my eyes on her, and after a beat of silence, her lips tip up into a smile. Leaning down, she picks up her purse from the floor and takes out her cell. A moment later, my cell chimes.

Arabella: I’m going to go bak to teh hotel and touvh myseld, imaginining my fingerss r yourrs as they dip in and out of my pusst.

My lips twitch at the typos proving she’s not sober, and the anger that had tried to overtake me at her admission that it’s just sex between us settles down. She’s drunk and horny. She wants me to fuck her, so is saying whatever she thinks will make that happen. Maybe she thinks that all I want is sex. Maybe it’s what she truly believes.

No matter how much my dick wants to slide between her thighs and take what she’s offering, until she’s sober and I can ask her, I’m not going to react to it. I made a promise to her years ago that I wouldn’t touch her while she was drunk, and I’m not about to break it now.

Arabella: Maybe I’ll sens you a photo of wha your missng.

I lift my head to look at her and arch an eyebrow. She shrugs and smirks.

“I look forward to it. It can go with the rest of my collection.”

She sniffs and tosses her head. I bite back a laugh. Even though she’s basically just told me all she wants is sex, I can’t help but like this drunk version of the girl I know. She’s more forward, more open with her desires. I just wish we were in a position where I didn’t have to refuse her. But right now, right here, isn’t the moment to indulge her needs.

The car slows to a stop, and I unclip my belt. “I won’t be long. Wait here,” I instruct the driver and climb out to walk around to the other side of the car. Opening the door, I hold out my hand. “Come on, Hellcat, let’s get you to your room.”

Her fingers wrap around mine, and she stumbles out of the car, crashing into me. Sliding my arm around her waist, I hold her steady and walk her indoors and into the first available elevator. Her arms lift and curl around my neck before the doors have even closed.

“Stay tonight?” Her lips press kisses along my jaw.

I loop my arms around her waist. “No.”

“Why not? I want you so much. I ache. I need you inside me.” Her body rubs up against mine. “Please, Eli?”

“Sorry, Kitten. As much as I love hearing you beg, I’m not doing this with you tonight.”

Her fingers toy with the hair at the nape of my neck. “But I want to get on my knees for you. Take you into my mouth. Suck you and lick you.” She spoils the erotic image she’s building with a tiny hiccup, which I’m thankful for.

“If sober you wants to revisit this, then I’m open to being persuaded.” I use two fingers to tip her head up and kiss the tip of her nose. “But I’m pretty confident sober you is going to be curled up in an embarrassed little hungover ball of mortification tomorrow.”

The doors swish open, and I guide her out.

“What if Sin comes to visit me instead?” We stop outside her door and her fingers lift to trail across my jaw. She sighs. “I miss him. He didn’t care about my feelings. He just wanted to make me get off for him.”

“He definitely liked watching you get off for him.”

“Then why can’t Sin come out to play with me tonight?”

I stroke a finger over her lips. “He left your blindfold at home.” Her tongue comes out to lick at my fingertip.

“I could just keep my eyes closed.”

I chuckle and reach for her purse to take out her keycard. “Some other time, Kitten.” Leaning past her, I unlock the door and open it. “In you go.” I rest my hands on her shoulders and turn her toward the room.

“Are you coming in?”

“No. Go on.” I drop her purse just inside the door and put her keycard on top of it. “What time is your flight tomorrow?”

“If you kiss me, I’ll tell you.”

I lean forward. Her eyelashes fall as her eyes close. I press a kiss to her cheek and take a step back. Her eyes fly open, and she pouts.

“That’s not what I mean.”

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