Page 8 of Toxic Things I Love About You

“Fucking hell, Butterfly. You have me all kinds of fucked up. How about we try this all again?”

She sniffled and pulled away, wiping her eyes with a layer of the dress.

I pulled off my coat and handed it to her.

Instead of her taking it like I’d expected, she grabbed at the zipper on the side of the dress, leaving me to watch the Emilee show. I’d missed that zipper or this dress might have been off sooner.

She wore a sexy navy blue corset, and I’d already destroyed the thong that probably had matched.

“Fucking hell. What are you doing?”

She sniffled and grabbed the dress.

“Well, you said we were starting over.”

Finally, before I had the damn heart attack, she grabbed my jacket from me. This might have been the sexiest I’d ever seen her as she buttoned up my coat. Although it was long enough to hit her midthigh, I fucking knew what was under the damn thing. And that damn corset? It peeked out under that jacket perfectly.

“Now I have my power suit. Or well, yours. So. Hi. My name’s Emilee Rossi. I like a really big cock and guns. My hobbies include fucking random men in parking garages and killing stupid males who get in my way.”

She held out her hand to me.

“That is not what I meant.”

She kept the hand extended, but somehow gracefully sidestepped the dress. There was no moving her until I did as Emilee wanted, and I was lost in her just enough that I gave in.

“Fine. I’m Roman Demarco. I run a string of clubs and businesses that your company had somehow side stepped in the money laundering services. I like destroying people by any means necessary,” I said and dared a step closer. “And I’m completely fucking ruined for all other women because of one tiny, snarky, frustrating woman.”

I took her hand and pulled her into my body. She let me, so I figured something I said must have been right. I slipped my free hand around her and held her close to me. There was no way out now. I let go of her hand and couldn’t stop myself. I needed to feel the skin of the woman I was fucking addicted to. The woman who was damn near bare under my coat.

Just the scent of her had every muscle in my body relaxing. When had I ever known the feeling that in all the chaos, it was still okay as long as she was here? Like, no matter where I was, if she was there, I’d figure it out?

My stomach flipped, or maybe it churned, because what I did next gave me a weakness.

“Fucking hell, Butterfly. I fucking love you.”

My finger slipped below the jacket’s hem, and I grabbed her ass as I bent down and tasted those delicious lips of hers.

She pulled away far too soon, and my cock was aching and disappointed.

“You love me?”

Her eyes seemed to be searching my face for something. Lies? Probably.

“You know I do. What other woman would I chase after? Normally, I’d be thankful they were running from my car.”

Her lips thinned.

“That’s all? Because you chased after me?”

She tried to wiggle free from my hold.

“No, damnit, Emilee. Because I fucking share information with you that I could and should have used for myself. I should have been watching my back. Should have been helping my company and instead. Do you know why I bought out all those fucking investors? Every single one of them was out to get you. In fact, I have one sitting, waiting for you. I saved the best for last.”

Her hands pressed against the thin fabric of my shirt and the heat of her touch did something I’d never noticed. Sure, I was hard, and sure, I was still an angry and mean asshole. But my fucking heart seemed to slow and calm at her touch.

Fucking hell.

“You’re my weakness, Butterfly. I’d get on my damn knees for you.”

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