Page 55 of Restrictions

“You think I don’t see you as a woman?”

I nod my head slowly. “I think I have to force you to.” My eyes flutter closed as the heat rises to my cheeks, feeling slightly humiliated at how desperate he makes me feel. “Maybe the bikini was a little for you too. I just want you to see me as sexy.”

My eyes open, expecting his face to show disgust at my longing for his attention. “You really think I’m not attracted you?” I nod my head slowly as his hand moves mine down to his trunks and over the enormous bulge there. My eyes lift to meet his, and I’m sure they’re wide with anticipation and surprise. My hand resting against his erect cock through the fabric of his swim trunks. “You’re torturing me.”

“You think you’re not tormenting me?” My hand moves along his hardness while his hand remains around my wrist. His throat tightens as he groans, a soft whimper escaping my throat as I feel his desire, my own threatening to strangle the life out of me. “I want this.”

“I can’t. I’m not Linc.”

He releases my hand and turns away from me, resting both arms on the ledge of the pool. “I don’t even know what that means. I’ve never slept with him. I have nothing to do with Linc.”

He turns his head, his eyes cold. “He slept with the wrong girl because his body wanted it.”

I feel the agony his words cause rip through me, and my words come out strained. “The wrong girl?”

He tips his head back. “Fuck.” His curse is short and angry as he looks back at me. “I’m the wrong guy for you. I’m not Colt either. I’m not good.”

“So you’re notgoodlike Colt, and you don’t want to be Linc, who you see as the bad one, although I don’t. He honestly doesn’t seem that bad at all.” I swim away from him, finding the stairs and climbing out of the pool, turning to face Asher. “At least he went for what he wanted.”

“She wasn’t his.” I watch him swim to the edge of the pool where I’m standing, his muscles flexing as he lifts his body out of the water and stands in front of me. “He took her away from Colt.”

“Colt wasn’tjusthers either.” I keep my chin lifted, portraying strength even if I’m shaking inside. “He wasn’tallgood. With me, he was very,verybad.”

I watch his chest inflate with air, all of his muscles flexing tight with tension, looking animalistic at the mention of his brother being anything other than perfect. “Don’t go there, Viv.”

“And what? Talk about the one time he let loose?” I take another step closer to Ash, my palm resting over his quivering stomach. “When he fucked me against the wall in someone else’s bedroom at a party neither of us should have been at? Maybe I’mjustthe wrong girl after all. The one Sterling men regret.” My hand slides to the hem of his trunks. “Use me like he did.”

He looks down at me, and I see the conflict in his eyes. “Is this about him? Some fucked-up fantasy?” His hands slide down my bare arms. “You want to pretend you’re fucking him again?”

“I’m not thinking about Colt.”

His head tips to the right. “You sure about that? I think you’re far more immoral than you’ve ever let on.” His lips creep toward mine, just barely brushing mine as a gasp escapes my throat and my soul craves his kiss, and he speaks, “I think you’re downright depraved, like me.”

“Except you won’t touch me.”

He moves away, leaving an emptiness inside me. “No. I won’t.” He walks to the table by the door and grabs a towel, tossing me a look over his shoulder. “Looks like we both have a date with our hands tonight.” He pushes the door open and walks through it, leaving me humiliated, frustrated, and angry.

Asshole.

24

ASHER

Iwalk up the stairs slowly, wondering if Viv slept as shitty as I did last night. I tossed and turned all night, thinking about her body in that black bikini. About her hand sliding down my stomach and over my cock that was very,veryhard for her.

I wanted her. Every single part of me wanted her, but I can’t do it.

I’m not Colt, and I’m not Linc. I need to figure out who the fuck I am, and screwing Viv wouldn’t help that.

Especially because I know enough about myself to know I don’t want a commitment.

I hear Baz laughing before I hit the top stair, and that sound alone always brings a smile to my lips. When I enter the kitchen, I feel Vivienne’s death glare from across the room where she’s slicing an apple.

Well fuck, I don’t think any man wants to see a woman he pissed off the night before with a knife, especially with the way she’s looking at me.

She is most definitely pissed-off.

I make a beeline right to Baz, and he lights up instantly, already dressed for the day in little jeans and a polo shirt. “Mornin’, little man.”

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