Page 107 of Destined To Fall

“Jeremy, please. Not now.”

“I’m not leaving until we talk.”

“I’m working tonight. You can’t be here.”

“Oh, you are? Convenient, seeing as you were just at my apartment not twenty minutes ago and had been in no hurry to leave at one point. This is crazy. You don’t need to do this.”

I spin back to face him.“Thisis what I do. This is who I am.”

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it. Butthisisn’t who you are. What we do never defines who we are, Viv.I thought you,of all people, wouldunderstand that. You’re more than a cheap whore.”

“You’re right. I’m a fucking expensive whore. I don’t come cheap. Ever.”

He looks contrite, but his face shifts to something sterner, his mouth turning up at the corner.

“So what was that in my apartment? A free pass?”

“I…”

“And the time before? I didn’t even have to touch you…”

He steps forward, bridging the gap between us, and I hate the way my body is responding to him. It’s pulsating with unadulterated need, bursting to feel his flesh on mine. Still. After everything he confessed.

“Don’t.”

“And the club…” He steps closer, right into my personal space.

I suck in a shaky breath. The memory of his hands on me—in me—is still so raw, still so vibrant.

“Nope. We’re not doing this. You can’t, remember? You won’t.”

“And you won’t give this a chance, us a chance.”

“Us? Ha. How can I? What kind of—”

“Relationship?”

He makes me want to scream in frustration.“I don’t date. Stop trying to make me something I’m not.”

“Wait.”

I spin on my heels, but before I can step forward, Jeremy grabs my hand, tugging me back around, causing me to crash into his chest. Whatever he was about to say dies on his tongue as we’re both caught off guard and a little thrown by the sudden proximity.

Stunned and silent, our chests rise and fall fast against each other, but before I can do something stupid like close the distance, Jeremy beats me to it. Taking my face roughly in his hands, he pulls my mouth to his, crushing his lips to mine in an all-consuming kiss.

“Stop.” I break away, twisting my face from his and pushing at his chest, desperate for breathing room, but he doesn’t budge.“You’re breaking all the rules.”

I hate the frustrated, desperate look in his eyes more than I hate him and myself right now. It’s screaming at me, bleeding into me, but it morphs right in front of my eyes. His gaze moves to something behind me, and my heart stills, watching as the confusion and fury take over.

“Tell me you’re not still working with my father, Vivienne. Tell me he’s not your client tonight.”

“I can’t do that.”

A vise wraps around my heart, squeezing the life out of me. I take two steps back, Jeremy’s burning gaze returning to me.

“You lied?”

“I’ve never lied.”

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