Page 60 of King of Pain

She snorts. “Kate is fine. Katherine better. All those nicknames were part of faking me out, weren’t they?”

“Faking you out?” I’ve got a bad feeling about this.

“Even before I realized you were rich, I should have known a guy like you wouldn’t ever want me.”

I cross my arms. “Why wouldn’t I want you?”

She gestures down her front. “We’ve been over this. I don’t look like the girl who gets a guy like you. Brown hair. Skinnyhips. Deadbeat mom.” She waves her hands and my T-shirt rides up, giving me the tiniest peek between her legs.

Maybe I should carry her into the house and make her cum until she forgets this whole thing. Tempting…

“That’s bullshit. You’re the hottest woman I’ve ever met.”

She shakes her head.

“And my dad was definitely as bad as your mom. I get it.”

Her shoulders go limp as she turns, starting down the driveway. “Where are you going?”

“I’m leaving,” she fires back.

I’ve got her by the waist in a second, hauling her up over my shoulder.

“Put me down,” she hits my back with her small fist. I barely feel it.

But when I smack my hand across her bare ass, she jumps like it stings. “Do you want your spanking first or would you rather that I eat you out until you scream?”

“What?” she gasps, her hands splaying out on my back.

“Look…” I’d like to set her down, but she’s not leaving in nothing but a T-shirt. “I get parents who are a mess. But I had one bad one and one good one. And my mom taught me that when you care about someone, you work shit out and apologize when you’re wrong.”

“I’m pretty sure that means you’re getting the spanking,” she huffs.

That makes me grin. “We both know I’m the alpha in the bedroom, baby.” And I smack her ass again. “But for you, I’ll take a beating if you need to give me one.”

I feel her wilt against me. “Is that your way of saying sorry?”

I’m up on the porch, and back in the house before I set her down, but I keep a good hold on her. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the whole truth. And I’m sorry that you’re stuck here playingdead with me. And I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you about my family.”

“They’re sacrificing my future for theirs.”

“I made Doctor Shrewsbury…”

She shakes her head. “He’s never going to give me a good rec or help me get the next coveted spot. I may as well not go.”

Fuck. She’s not wrong. That’s how big dicks work. “Kate.”

Her shoulders curl in. “Was it all a lie? What we said last night?”

I pull her into my arms, burying my face in her hair. I can tell her the truth. None of it was a lie, but I also know she’s not going to believe me. “No. And all I ask is that you stick around long enough for me to prove it.”

She shakes her head against my chest. “It’s not the same now.”

“Well, I will tell you what is the same, Gorilla is still on our tail. And I don’t want you meeting him alone.”

That makes her stiffen and she leans back, her eyes wide as they meet mine. Had she forgotten about the giant ape following us?

“Besides,” I curl a palm around her naked ass. “You can’t go walking down the road in your bare feet and no pants.”

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