Page 56 of They All Own Me

"Well no." He laughs, deep and genuine. "I just hate entitled people who think they own everything they see." His eyes meet mine. "Speaking of entitled pricks..."

"Yeah, yeah. I have terrible taste in men. Though to be fair, I didn't exactly choose Thomas."

"What would you choose?" He asks it casually, but there's weight behind the question.

I consider this, pulling my knees to my chest. "Someone real. Someone who sees me for who I am, not who they want me to be." I gesture at the pizza. "Someone who'd let me eat carbs without making me feel like shit about it."

Connor's quiet for a moment, then slides the pizza box closer to me. "Have another slice. Doctor's orders."

"You're not that kind of doctor."

"No," he agrees, "but I am the kind that knows how to dispose of bodies. So I'd say my opinion carries some weight."

I laugh despite myself, grabbing another piece. We settle in to watch the movie, and for the first time in years, I feel completely comfortable just being myself.

The movie plays on, I've seen it a hundred times, but never really watched it. Not like this - sprawled on a couch with pizza and beer, wearing sweats instead of Valentino.

"God, I used to dream about this," I say, gesturing at the screen where the lead couple shares a perfectly choreographed kiss in the rain. "The whole fairy tale thing. Meeting someone who'd look at me like that."

Connor shifts beside me. "Instead you got Senator Stick-Up-His-Ass?"

"Instead I got a marriage certificate before I could legally drink." My laugh comes out hollow. "You know what Thomas said on our wedding night? He told me I should be grateful - that no one else would put up with how ordinary I am."

"Ordinary?" Connor's voice drops low, dangerous. "That fucking-"

"It's fine." I wave him off, but my voice catches. "I mean, he's right. I'm not exactly mob-wife material either. I just… I don't know what I am anymore."

"Look at me." Connor's hand catches my chin, turning my face toward his. His brown eyes lock onto mine, intense and unwavering. "There's nothing ordinary about you."

My breath hitches.

Before I can respond, he closes the distance between us. His lips capture mine, soft at first, then more demanding. The kiss deepens, and I taste beer and pizza and something uniquely Connor. His hand slides into my hair, and I grip his t-shirt, pulling him closer.

Chapter 30

Connor

Her lips are addictive,like the first taste of a forbidden fruit. I can’t help but deepen the kiss, our tongues battling for control.

“Connor,” she breathes against my lips, her voice a whisper of a plea.

I grab her ass, pulling her closer until there’s no space left between us. “Tatum,” I murmur, my voice rough with need. “You have no idea what you do to me.”

She bites at my lip ring, teasing it with her teeth before moving up to kiss my neck. Each touch sends shivers down my spine. I’m losing myself in her, in this moment. I need more. Now.

“Fuck,” I groan, lifting off the couch with her still straddling me. She wraps her legs around my waist instinctively.

“Where are we going?” she asks, a playful smirk on her lips as she trails kisses along my jawline.

“My room,” I say simply. “I need you there.”

“Bossy,” she teases, nipping at my earlobe.

“Damn right.” My hands tighten on her ass as I start moving towards the stairs.

“Hold on tight,” I tell her, feeling the strain of carrying her weight but loving every second of it. Her nails dig into my shoulders in response, and it’s like gasoline on a fire.

“You’re surprisingly strong for a brainiac,” she says, breathless but amused.

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