Page 49 of Taking Chances

“I guess you’re right.”

“Is that you saying yes?” Her voice turns chipper, her hands clasped together.

“Maybe. I’m still not aware how the whole thing would look like.”

“It’s up to you, you’re the experienced one. Teach me, master,” she adds jokingly, making me groan.

“Sorry,” she quips, her skin the color of her hair.

“I don’t even know what you like.” My teeth hurt from grinding together but my dick’s ready to go.

“Me neither.” She lets out a self-deprecating huff. “I hoped you could help me figure it out.”

I glance her way, and it was a mistake. Her eyes stare at me innocently, round and huge, and fuck—there’s no way I could say no.

“Fine.”

“Really?” she squeals. “Thank you!”

“Don’t thank me yet. Besides, we need to make sure we’re on the same page for a few things before it.”

“Great. Hit me with it.” Her enthusiasm is contagious.

“Not now. I’ll text when we can meet. OK?”

“Yes.” She’s still buzzing with excitement, but I need to shut this down for now.

After fingering her yesterday, andthis, I’m in no place to hold serious conversations. My brain to dick blood ratio is too skewed to make responsible decisions. Which is what I’m blaming this whole arrangement on.

The whole thing fills me with equal parts adrenaline and dread. If she leaves this unscathed it will be a freaking miracle, but I’m not strong enough to refuse. Something about making this good girl bad is intoxicating to me.

Shit, I never counted the corruption kink as one of mine.

She turns up the music, humming along to whichever song is playing, seemingly oblivious to my inner turmoil. The song is about love. All consuming, overwhelming love, and I’m reminded of how different we are.

Anne sings along, aching for that kind of love, while I dread any type of emotion.

Who would want to be so consumed with love that you lose yourself? That even when the love is long gone, you’re still stuck in place, no matter how much you’re suffering.

The mountain scenery fades as we get closer to home, the city skyline coming into view. I help her get her things upstairs.

“Don’t forget our arrangement,” she says instead of goodbye, and I nod. Like it would be possible for me to forget.

At home, I reopen the book I stole from her, starting from the top. Two hours and seven sex chapters later, a part of me is afraid of what lurks behind those forest green eyes.

Because if this book is any indication of her interests, I may be over my head.

God help me.

19

ANNE

Ican’t believe I did it!

Three days later, I’m still walking on clouds with the confidence boost I got from our conversation. It was great that Lennox said yes, but what was an even bigger boost was the fact that I did it. I asked for what I wanted. And it paid off.

He still hasn’t texted me, though, but I refuse to overthink it. This incredibly hot man is somehow attracted to me. I’ll never understand it, but I’ll embrace it with both hands.

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