Page 58 of The Rogue and His Flower

“Let’s break this down, shall we?”

She pouts her glossy lips, and I want nothing more than to kiss her. Instead I adjust my body, completely blocking her path. “Talk to me.”

“You’re not going to let this go, are you?”

“Nope.”

“Okay, then. Did you mean what you said?” she asks, cocking her brow.

“I meant it. Yes. Every last word.”

She considers me for a moment. “Lia thought you were being sincere.”

“I knew there was a reason why I liked Lia so much,” I grin. “And what about you, did you think I was being sincere?”

“In contrast, Drix thought you were taking liberties,” she replies, ignoring my question.

“Well, they’re both correct,” I counter.

“You admit to taking liberties?”

“I wanted to kiss you. So I kissed you. I don’t regret it,” I add reaching out to pinch the end of the curl that’s framing her face. “In fact, I rather enjoyed it. Besides, you seemed to like it too.”

She slaps my hand away. “I kissed you back because it would’ve given the game away if I had kneed you in the balls, Dalton.”

Leaning in closer, I lower my voice. “Do you know what I think?”

“What?” she counters, her gaze briefly dropping to my lips, before she quickly flicks her eyes back up again.

“I think you liked the speech I gave, and that you know deep down I was being sincere. I also believe that you enjoyed the kiss. Furthermore, I think you’re pissed off because I haven’t given you much attention this week,” I observe.

Her eyes widen for a moment before narrowing again. “Are you trying to be funny?”

I chuckle, enjoying the banter between us. “I’m always trying, Daisy.”

“Yeah,verytrying,” she retorts, jutting her chin out as she turns her face away from me.

Reaching for her, I rest my fingers against her chin, urging her to look at me. “Firstly, I’m sorry I haven’t made time for youthis week. You have my word, I will do better. Secondly, I want you to know that I meant everything I said. None of that was for show.”

“But the kiss was?” she whispers.

“No it wasn’t. That kiss was for me. Iwantedto kiss you.”

“Because you were trying to prove a point that you can take whatever you want and damn the consequences,” she counters.

“No, because you looked stunning, and I knew that if I tried to kiss you when there wasn’t an audience you wouldn’t have let me. It was selfish, but I’d do it again just to get a taste of your lips, to feel your body melt against mine, and to hear those pretty little whimpers you make when I fuck your mouth with my tongue.” I lean in closer, my breath mingling with hers as I murmur, “And I’m getting the distinct impression that you rather enjoy that side of me.”

“That kiss…” she begins, her floral scent lifting up into the air and making me want to bury my nose against her throat.

“Yes?”

“Was good,” she replies, her lips millimetres from mine.

“It was,” I agree, smirking.

“But I’ve had better,” she retorts, shoving me against my chest and striding past me.

She’s had better?

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