Page 181 of Seeds of Malice

Moments pass as his stare intensifies.

Desperation hits me. I beg, "Tell me you love me. Please."

He stays quiet, disapproval filling his expression.

"Dax?" I cry out.

He leans closer to my ear. "Shh. I love you more than anything, my sexy slut."

Relief hits me.

He adds, "Remember that night in the boathouse when I promised you that you wouldn't walk the next day?"

"Yes?" I breathe.

He slides his fingers through my hair and tugs on it so my head faces the ceiling. He leans over me and warns, "That's going to look like nothing by the time this night's over." His lips tip up into a wicked grin, and I have to wonder again what I'm doing and why.

28

Dax

My sordid self can't decide if I like this or not.

She's mine.

Why did I let anyone else touch her?

Ivy bashfully smiles at me, her breath ragged, and I kiss her, then release her. I go to the window and stare out into the blackness.

I need space to collect my thoughts.

It's going exactly as planned.

This isn't right.

Bobby hands me another glass of scotch.

I take a few sips, trying to calm my racing heart, breathing in the scent of Ivy's arousal and Lilly's perfume. It reminds me of Avery.

I wish it would disappear along with Ivy and me.

What am I thinking?

I can't do this.

She's going to regret it.

That's the whole point. Stop being a pussy and win the game.

Bobby suggests, "I think it's time we actually had some fun, don't you, Dax?"

I glance at him, alarm bells ringing in the back of my mind.

He gives me a look and clinks my glass. It's the same look he always gives me when he tells me not to wimp out, which never used to happen before Ivy entered my life.

"Yeah," I affirm against my better judgment.

He nods.

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