Page 49 of The Risk

I ponder for a moment. “Nah.”

“Come on, Connelly.” I don’t think I’ve ever seen Brenna so flustered. “Don’t make me beg.”

A bolt of lust streaks straight to my groin. “That sounds so fucking appealing.”

Her mouth tightens. “It’s not happening.”

“Mmmm, you on your knees…begging…” My cock twitches.

It’s official. I’m hot for this girl. I’ve slept with my share of women, but I can’t remember the last time I lusted this hard over someone. I can feel my eyes glazing over as I envision the scene I justdescribed. Brenna on her knees, unzipping my pants. Gripping my cock. Peering up at me with big eyes. Pleading for it.

“I’m not begging,” she says firmly. “I’m asking. If you’re saying no, then fine, I’ll get up and leave.”

I snap myself out of my lust trance. “I’m not saying no.”

“Great. Then come with me on Friday.”

I chuckle. “Oh, I’m not saying yes, either.”

If looks could kill, I’d be on the floor surrounded by a chalk outline right about now. “Then what are you saying?” she demands.

“I’m saying—quid pro quo. I don’t know if you learned this in school, but nothing comes for free.” I wink. “I scratch your back, you scratch mine.”

“I am not scratching any part of your body.”

“All I mean is, if I help you out, I want something in return.”

“Like what?” She starts fidgeting with the end of her braid, clearly unhappy.

I’d kind of like for her to undo the braid altogether. I want to see her dark hair loose around her shoulders. Actually, nah. I want to see it fanning over my bare chest as she crawls her way down my body and—

“Like what?” she repeats when I take too long to reply.

Once again, I force myself to concentrate. “So, you want a date on Friday night—”

“A fake date.”

“A fake date,” I amend. “Well, in return, I want a real one.”

“A real what?”

“A real date. You get a fake date, I get a real one.”

“Are you joking?” Her mouth falls open. “You want to go out with me?”

I examine her incredulous expression. “I know, right? It caught me by surprise, too.” I offer a shrug. “But it happened and now here we are. I think you’re hot, and I know you thinkI’mhot—”

“I thinkyouthink you’re hot,” she interjects with a snort.

“I don’t think that. I know that. And I’ve seen the way you check me out, so…” I hold up my hands in a careless motion, before gesturing from me to her. “I think there’s something here—”

“There is nothing here. Nothing.”

“Okay. Cool. I’ll just be on my way.” I lift my ass off the chair.

“Connelly,” Brenna growls. “Sit back down.” She briefly closes her eyes. “You’re saying you’ll come to the dinner party with me, and all I have to do is go out with you for real.”

“Yeah, but don’t make it out like you’re meeting up with a serial killer. At leastpretendto sound excited about going out with me.”

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