Page 460 of Savage Bosses

And as the hours passed, Tati found herself growing accustomed to this strange new dynamic, even if it was far from ideal. And surprisingly, just like the steak craved her hunger for food, the wine dimmed her hunger for sex.

Which prompted Tati to believe that was precisely why he’d given it to her. When she was done eating and drinking, Bryce rose from the bed.

Staring down at her, he told her, “Get some rest. That will only hold off the aphrodisiac for a little while.”

With that said, he left the room. She was right. He had given the wine to her to lessen the feelings of the drug. Was he feeling guilty now? Served him right. Tati yawned. After Bryce left the room, Tati sighed and reluctantly obeyed his command.

She crawled under the covers and closed her eyes, trying to find solace in sleep. It felt like an eternity before her exhausted mind finally gave in to the darkness. But when it did, her dreams were filled with erotic visions of Bryce.

She could blame it on the drug. But the truth was, her heart wanted him just as much as her body did. Tati was willing to play this game with him, as long as in the end, they both won. She hoped this game led to them starting over. If not, this would hurt far more than her leaving five years ago had.

She wasn’t sure she could handle that type of pain again.

Chapter Fourteen

Tatianna

A

sudden jolt of heat tore Tati from her slumber, her body aching with need. Her breath caught in her throat as she looked around the dimly lit room, disoriented for a moment. To her surprise, Bryce was already there, seated on the edge of the bed and watching her intently.

"Can't sleep?" he asked, his dark eyes burning into hers.

"Damn drug," she muttered, feeling her face flush with embarrassment. "I... I need you, Bryce."

Bryce's expression softened slightly, but he didn't move. Instead, he studied her face as if searching for something buried deep within her soul.

"Is that what you really want, Tati? Or is it just the drug talking?" he asked, his voice low and guarded.

Tati hesitated for a moment. She knew the drug was responsible for the heat coursing through her veins, but her feelings for Bryce were real. They'd always been real.

"Both," she whispered, her eyes pleading with him to understand. "I need you, Bryce. I've always needed you."

A flicker of relief crossed his face, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. He leaned in closer, his breath warm against her skin. Tati's heart raced as Bryce's intense gaze bore into hers.

"First, tell me why you left me," he demanded, his voice firm yet laced with vulnerability.

"Bryce..." Tati hesitated, her eyes darting away from his for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts. The tension between them felt like a live wire, ready to snap at any moment.

"I... I was scared, Bryce," she finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper, as if she were sharing a secret. "I thought you wouldn't want me anymore after... everything that happened. So, I ran."

"Why would you think that?" he asked.

Tati didn't answer.

“Tell me," he insisted, voice desperate, like he’d die if he didn’t learn the answer.

"Because... Because...." Tati swallowed the lump in her throat, unable to tear her gaze away from his. "I thought you hated me."

A wave of confusion washed over Bryce's face as he stared at her, disbelief etched into every line of his handsome features.

"Hated you?" He clenched his fists at his sides, the muscles in his arms flexing with the force of his anger. "That's the furthest thing from the truth, Tati. I loved you, damn it."

Tati blinked back tears, her chest tightening with regret and relief. "I know. I just… I was scared!" she exclaimed, tears forming in her eyes as the memory of Melinda's lies came rushing back. The truth spilled from her lips as she told him how Melinda asked to meet up with her and then told her about Marco.

"You know it was me?" he asked, staring down at the floor.

"I do."

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