Page 76 of My Ruthless Opponent

“Is that so? You want me to believe this bullshit?” He frowns.

There’s no way he is going to buy our lies so easily. I have to be creative.

“As much as it’s hard to believe, it is the truth, Archer.” I sigh, pull my hand from Raleigh, and rest it on the table.

“You might be thinking how this is possible when I hate him so much.”

Archer says nothing and I go on. “It all started three months ago. Raleigh and I were working on one project. As usual, I was the last one to leave. But one day, Raleigh came up to me and offered me a ride home.”

Archer’s face is blank. Unreadable. I continue, “I refused his offer. Obviously. But he insisted. He said he won’t leave until I said yes. To call his bluff, I stayed for two hours more, just to test him. I was surprised to find him waiting for me in the lobby when I was on my way out. Hewaitedfor me.”

I feel Raleigh throwing daggers at me from my side because I am improvising.

Earlier, we had agreed on a story where Raleigh and I mutually decide to date. I went totally off track.

“He began doing that. Dropping me home. Every night. For a week. On the seventh night, when I climbed off his Harley and wished him goodnight, he reached for my hand. And confessed his feelings to me. Under the moonlight, for the first time, I saw vulnerability in Raleigh’s eyes. I couldn’t say no.”

I jump a little when I feel Raleigh’s hand creeping up on my thigh. He squeezes me. Hard. A warning. Which I ignore.

I open my mouth to continue the romantic imaginary story when Raleigh cuts in.

“But… I backed off when I saw the reluctance in her answer and hesitance in her eyes. As you know, I don’t need to force my women for anything. I need to see the want in my woman’s eyes for me. I don’t take anything less. So I backed off.” Raleigh sighs in dejection.

What the hell? What is he doing? I made a perfect story. And he ruined everything! Can’t he co-operate with me for once?

“Imagine my surprise when I found Hannah two days later in my office. I was avoiding her calls and messages because my ego was bruised. She cornered me in my zone.”

Now, I am the one who’s clawing his thigh under the table.

He only grins. I am stunned when he reaches out to weave his fingers in my hair with shocking familiarity and leans in.

His mouth is so close, only inches apart from mine. “I would be lying if I said I wasn’t fucking thrilled to see her that day. She was all dressed up. Like she put in extra effort for me. Then she shocked the shit out of me by kissing me.”

“Wha—” Raleigh’s lips crash to mine in a rough kiss. I lose my breath.

He kisses me right there in front of Archer.

In front of other diners.

Before I could gather my scattered wits and react, his tongue is already in my mouth. A tremor runs through my body when I see him staring at me while devouring my lips.

He tastes like Soju and sin. A heady combination that invades my senses.

My eyes fall shut because what I see in his eyes terrifies me.

So much anger. And want. I close them to avoid his intense gaze and grab fistfuls of his shirt. Battling for control as I begin kissing him back.

I bite his lip hard. If he is taking from me. I’ll snatch from him right back. I’ll wrench away his control like he did mine.

Nothing prepares me for his growl. So deep and low that it makes my nipples hard. It tingles and throbs.

Raleigh angles his head, his grip tightening in my hair. His free hand strokes the side of my neck. The touch is a complete contrast to his kiss as he nibbles on my lip before soothing it by softly sucking on it.

Raleigh lets out a small groan as he breaks the kiss. He presses his lips at the corner of my mouth.

Dazed, I slowly open my eyes.

He brushes a strand of hair from my face as he stares at me with hooded eyes. His pupils are dilated and he’s breathing hard.

---