Page 56 of Javier

“Onekiss.” He jerked up his zipper and buttoned his pants. “I said you could haveonekiss.”

“Was it too long?” I asked, unable to understand the wrath that dripped from his words. “Did I do it wrong?”

“Wrong?” His frown tightened. “Hell, no. You did it well. Too well.”

“Then…” Digging my nails into the chair’s rattan, I grappled to make sense of the broken moment, of my shattered confidence. “What is it?”

“We’re done.” He peeled his back off the wall and braced on his sandals.

“Why?” My curiosity piped up, and slowly, a tide of anger awakened in my stomach, roiling in my depths like a stormy sea.

“Because I say so,” he said sternly.

“Because you say so?” I opened my mouth and closed it. I had an urge to run away, but I held myself in place. A frown twisted my face and a burst of my anger ignited. “What about me?” I fought to keep my voice from cracking. “Don’t I get a say?”

His reply was an absolute, “No.”

Fury roared in my ears, new but strong, unfamiliar inside of me, but also somehow necessary to survive this moment. A minute ago, I’d felt alive. Now, I felt as if I was dying, deprived of breath and light. I stood, needy but unfulfilled, rejected and deserted, not to mention disoriented and disheveled

With a yank, I straightened my rumpled T-shirt. I was so wet I feared that a damp spot might show between my legs. My lips burned and so did my chin and cheeks, where his whiskers had chafed my skin. Mousy Missy tried to douse the fires and play down my horror at this moment by scurrying away, maybe finding a freaking cave to hide in.

“You don’t want me.” The realization almost knocked me off my feet. Embarrassment flamed on my face and shame lowered my gaze to the deck. “All along, it was all in my head,” I mumbled, mostly to myself. “I’m not busty, curvy, or assy. I’mnot up to your standards.” Tears prickled my eyes. I felt so small, dejected, and insignificant. “I’m sorry I made you kiss me.”

He was on me so fast that he startled me.

“Missy Astor.” He grabbed my shoulders and gave me a little shake. “Don’t you dare apologize for kissing me. Or for taking what you need. Or for wanting what you want.” His fingers dug into my skin. “You’re beautiful. Do you hear me, Angel? You’re perfect. You’re beyond what any man has a right to expect, let alone aspire to.”

“I… I don’t understand.” I motioned between us. “Then what’s this about?”

“Something that can’t be, can’t happen.” He let go of me and began to pace the deck, leaving me even more confused.

“If you don’t want me, just say so.”

“That’s not—” His throat rippled. “You’re very tempting, Angel, but I can’t do you.”

“Why?”

“You’re Goddess’s sister. You’re under my care.”

“Underyourcare?” I twisted my face into a grimace and sent Mousy Missy to crawl back into her hole. “I’m not a freaking baby.”

“I’m a professional,” he said in an arrogant tone that set my teeth on edge. “You’re my mission, and a relationship between us would be totally inappropriate in this context.”

“Wow, that’s the most mature thing I’ve heard you say yet.”Look them in eye.Pride and dignity.Attitude. “But who said I want a relationship with you?”

He stopped on his tracks. “Excuse me?”

“Relationship is a big word.” I made my stand. “I don’t need a guy or a relationship, and you already told me you don’t do love. Remember?”

“I did say that, once.” He narrowed his eyes on me.

“Maybe all I want is just a few more kisses and a littlefooling around.” The words made total sense as I spoke them. “Nobody has to know. Maybe I just want to have a go at lust. In addition to being a professional, you’re a man, right?”

“Right.”

“And you have needs.”

“Sure.”

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