Page 27 of Dangerous Lies

“Aden?” She shook her head. “He wouldn’t hurt me. You'll probably think I'm a monster.”

Ginger brushed the back of his hand down the side of her face. “I highly doubt you're a monster. Tell me.”

She closed her eyes and thought about that night. She and Aden were on the top floor of the abandoned building, looking at a bug book he’d borrowed from the library. He was alwaystherefor her. She’d tried to talk to him some nights about his past, but he would clam up and not talk to her for days.

“Itwas a Tuesday night. The druggies tended to stay on the bottom floors, hence us staying as high up as possible. I didn't have many personal items, except a necklace my sister gave me. We'd founditat a rummage sale, and she boughtitfor me.” She paused. “A man came in and wanted everything we had. I refused to give up the necklace, so he came at me.”

She had been on the streets long enough toknowsomeone high on drugs wouldn't stop until they got what they wanted. Except, she didn't want to hand over the dumb piece of jewelry.

“He lunged forward, tripped over a sleeping bag, and his knife cut my stomach.Therewas so much blood.”

Ginger's brows pinched together. “Nothing in that story you should be ashamed about.”

This was the part she’d kept hidden for years, and she wasn't sure why she wanted to tell Ginger. “Aden went crazy, pulled the guy off of me, grabbed the knife, and stabbed him over and over. Then, when he finished, the boy who looked at bugs with me, killed the man. All because I wouldn't give up the necklace.”

Ginger brushed his thumb against her cheek, collecting the tear. “Your actions weren't what caused Aden to do that. I assume the boy was arrested.”

Rose swallowed. “No, he disappeared. He told me to go to the free clinic at the end of the block, and he would call the police, but when I returned, the body wasn't on the floor. Someone threw away all the bloody blankets and I couldn't find Aden. The police never came.”

“How are you sure they didn’t show up?”

“None of the drug dealers had left. When the police showed up near the abandoned building, people scattered. I drove Aden to kill someone, and he ran. Every time I look at the scar,itreminds me of how selfish I was over that one item.”

Ginger rested his hand on her hip. “Aden didn't need to kill him. You need to stop blaming yourself.”

“Sometimes, I can'tgetout of my own head.”

His lip twisted. “Iknowa few ways togetyou out of your head. Every time you have bad thoughts about yourself, I'm going to spank your ass.”

His threat should turn her off, but instead, her sex throbbed. She wondered what his hand against her ass would be like.

His fingers slid from her hips to her ass, and he squeezed. “You like the sound of that?”

“I honestly don'tknow.” She looked at the partially open door to her room. Her soncouldeasily wake up. “Maybe we should stop.”

“Is that what you really want?”

When she didn't answer, he smirked. One second, she was sitting on his lap. The next, she was face down over his knees.

“Fuck, your ass is gorgeous.”

Her face heated from his complement. She shifted to move her hands, but he captured her wrists and held them against her lower back.

“Now, you're going to have to keep your moans low. We don't want to have to explain to Tyler how you ended up over my lap.”

Before shecouldreply, his hand came down on her ass. She let out a surprised squeak.Itdidn't hurt, but more scared the crap out of her.

“Ginger?”

He slapped her ass a second time. “All you have to do is say the word no, and I'll stop instantly, but from the way your ass is wiggling, I don't think you will say no. Now let me enjoy the sight of your slightly pink cheeks.It'sfuckin' sexy as hell. One night, I'm going to makeitbright red and fuck you from behind. Tonight, I plan to make love to you. Tell me howitfeels.”

Howcouldshe tell this man she actually liked being over his lap with his dick pressing into her side? She felt—sexy.

“Itshouldn't be this good, but—”

His hand came down again, cutting off her words.

“Thereare no rules to sex. Tonight is about us and what we need. Nobody in this room will judge you for what makes your pussy throb.” He ran his calloused hand over her butt. “If I dip my fingers lower, will I find you dripping for me?”

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