Page 55 of The Dirty Saint

“Nothing’s stopping us.”

Ezra clicks her tongue, trying her hardest to find a valid reason as to why I shouldn’t crash my mouth onto hers, tasting every inch and crevice of her sweet, soft lips.

“I don’t like you,” she lies. “There. There’s a reason.”

“That’s bullshit, and you know it.”

She shakes her head.

“You’ve hurt me.”

I brush my lips over her jaw, whispering into her chin.

“I know I have. I hate myself for it. And I will spend my entire life wearing that guilt around. But, Ezra, I need you. I need to know what you feel like. What you taste like. What gives you pleasure. I am going crazy right now.”

I slowly drag her shirt down, revealing the lash marks.

“You occupy every piece of my mind,” I kiss the spot right above her breast. “I dream of you. Day in. And day out.”

“Joey,” Ezra moans.

“I have tried to stop thinking about you. Because I know it’s wrong. I don’t deserve you,” I let my lips travel down her skin. “But I just can’t stop.”

Ezra arches her back, leaning into my touch.

“The thought of other men getting a taste of you…”

“My god, Joey,” Ezra cries.

My hands trail up and down her body, grazing every inch of her. I smile against her skin as she weaves her hands through my hair.

“Joey, stop,” Ezra says.

I remove my lips from her breast, gazing up at her. “Is everything okay?”

“You asked me something a long time ago—”

Caleb.

“Look, if this is all just some strategy to get me to talk—”

“Ezra,” I place my finger over her lips. “The specifics don’t matter. They aren’t important right now.”

“Just promise me if we do this, that it is because of desire and nothing else.”

I kiss her lips.

“I promise.”

13

Chapter Thirteen

During

EZRA

I crash my lips onto Joey’s, savoring the softness and taste.

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