Page 55 of Inked Persuasion

When I needed a better angle, needed more, I turned us over so she was on her back, one knee near her ear. I slid into her again, pounding, thrust after thrust. I kissed her hard, her nails scraping down my back. When she clamped around my cock, coming again, I came with her.

We both shook, and I lowered her leg and then twisted so she was on top of me, no longer bruised into the floor. I knew I didn’t actually leave marks on her, but that’s what it felt like just then. As if both of us had moved too fast, gone too far. Maybe that was just what my subconscious thought.

Because this was becoming routine. This wasn’t just sex. She knew things about me, and I was getting to know her more than I ever thought possible. And it scared me.

“Wow,” she said before leaning on one arm and looking down at me.

“I guess we didn’t quite make it to the shower.”

She laughed. “We rarely make it to a bed, Jacob.”

“Isn’t that the truth? One day, we’ll make it to a bed. Maybe.” Perhaps a bed was too normal, too serious? Or, once again, I was overthinking things.

“Anyway…” she said, her voice trailing off. She met my gaze, and something flashed behind her eyes. Something I couldn’t read. She looked vulnerable in a way I hadn’t seen before. She moved off me carefully, and I rolled away to dispose of the condom. She swallowed hard and covered herself slightly as she bent to pick up her clothes. “I should get home. As you said, I have an early day tomorrow, and it’s just easier if I’m home. You know?”

She was putting distance between us. I needed that, too, but there was something in her tone I couldn’t read. Why?Because you don’t want to, I reminded myself. I couldn’t. If I read her as much as part of me wanted to, it would mean we had gone too far. And she would end up hurt. This was how it needed to be.

“Makes sense. Here, I’ll walk you out.”

“Jacob, I live right next door. I’m fine.”

“I’d rather make sure you’re safe.”

Her lips quirked into a smile, and she shook her head. “I’ve lived here longer than you have, Jacob Queen. I can take care of myself. I always have.”

She leaned forward, kissed me on the cheek, and then walked away, her clothes in hand as she made her way to the guest bathroom to change.

I stood, completely naked, still smelling of sex and Annabelle—and had no idea what the fuck I was supposed to do.

Chapter 16

Annabelle

Istared at my bedroom ceiling, knowing my alarm was about to go off at any moment. I should just roll out of bed and pretend I had slept. I’d maybe gotten two hours the night before, but it had been off and on when I wasn’t tossing and turning. And I only had myself to blame.

I had run out of Jacob’s home last night as if an ax murderer was behind me. I was so messed up. I couldn’t believe I had run like that. As if the hounds of hell were on my tail. I just couldn’t be in a room with Jacob any longer. And maybe that was the problem.

Because I loved him.

Damn it. I loved Jacob Queen. I loved how he made me smile, the way he made me laugh. How he could ask just the right questions when it came to my family to help me figure out what I needed to do—or even how I felt to begin with.

Eliza had been right. It hadn’t been a single moment, but a series of them. I had found myself wondering who this man could be and how I could be with him, and now we were here. I couldn’t take that back.

It couldn’t change who we were or what we’d said about being in this relationship to begin with.

Yes, I loved Jacob Queen, but he could never love me. I had helped put that block on our relationship. Was right there with him.

So why did it feel like I had made a mistake?

Maybe the mistake was falling in love at all.

My heart hurt, and I rubbed at my chest over my tank top, wondering if I could make it go away. I wasn’t supposed to love him. It was only supposed to be fun. Something entertaining, and a nice time to relax after a long day at work.

But now I was thinking about what kind of food he liked so I could choose a place for our next date. And what I would send to him for lunch at work. I also thought about Dustin, Seressia, Lucas, and the others on staff because I always sent them sandwiches along with Jacob’s.

Because Jacob did the same for me.

He had sent a meal in for the office and my family just because he could. Because he knew we’d had a long day, and it would only get longer. And he just wanted to be a nice guy.

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