Page 36 of Merciless Sinner

“But…”

“No buts. That’s the God’s honest truth.”

“Harper, in my experience when a woman cries her eyes out on your shoulder there are always buts.”

“Seriously, Jeremy. It was an incredibly decadent night that I’m never going to forget.”

“So why not talk to Alex? He’s anxious to see you again. Although I’ll be honest with you. As much as he claims to be respecting your space, I’m quite shocked he hasn’t found a way to corner you and put a collar around that pretty neck of yours.”

“I—I just can’t.” I pulled myself from his comforting embrace and straightened my clothes, doing my best to pull myself together. I’d need to return to my kitchen soon.

“That’s not much of an answer. But if we pushed you too far and you regret that night…”

“No!” How could they think that? “Absolutely no regrets. If anything it made me realize how much of myself has been closed off since I moved here. Maybe when I get my bearings again I can look for…” I didn’t have the heart to even voice the words. It would be some time before I got Alex out of my mind. Not to mention now letting Jeremy down—in person no less.

“I’m really not getting it. You’re going to have to spell it out for me darling.” He stood his ground, hands on hips, looking every inch the alpha male I knew him to be.

I blew out my breath and threaded my fingers through my hair, pulling it free from the ponytail holder. “Why did Alex send you here instead of coming himself? And what did you mean put a collar on me? Why would he ever do that?”

“First, he didn’t send. I ran into him this morning at the coffee shop near his apartment and he filled me in on what’s been going on.” Jeremy cupped my chin and lifted my head to meet his gaze. “Now stop stalling and tell me what the real problem is.”

Fine, if he was going to harass me for the truth I had no choice but to give it to him. “I don’t want to be in a relationship where I’m shared,” I blurted.

Silence stretched between them for long moments. I blinked my eyes against his harsh scrutiny. He remained silent. My stomach cramped. Rejecting Jeremy in person had not been on today’s agenda and I was beginning to resent him for forcing me to do this.

“Is that it?”

“Isn’t that enough?” I didn’t bite back the sarcasm that time. My patience had officially run out.

Jeremy smiled wide. “Oh little one, you have no idea what you’re in for do you?” He dropped his hand and pivoted me in the direction in which we’d come.

What the hell was that supposed to mean? My anger rose. “You aren’t making this easy for me, you know.”

He snickered. “I can’t believe you thought I would. Didn’t your mother ever tell you that anything worth having is not going to be easy?”

I sighed at the brief flash of grief thinking of my mother caused. “My mother didn’t have time for clichés and men who made no sense. She had more important things to do.”

“It’s a good thing I know Alex likes a sassy woman. Where I on the other hand would be

more likely to fuck it out of you as quickly as possible.”

Unbidden images of my being fucked hard at the Glass Kat flooded my mind. Fire erupted between my legs of its own free will. Damn arrogant man. He probably knew exactly what his words did to me.

“One of these days, if I’m ever ready to settle down, I’m going to find a sweet submissive who lives to follow my rules.”

I snort laughed. “Good luck with that.” Although he might with that sexy as sin face and body to match. Plus the badge. A very good girl would suit him well.

A few minutes later we arrived back at my door. Torn between running away and grilling Jeremy for more information on Alex, I bit my lip and shoved my hands into my pocket.

“You really are going to be a stubborn one, aren’t you?” he asked.

“I have no idea what you mean.”

“Uh huh. Look, you need to talk to Alex. You’ve got it all wrong.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means that you don’t know Alex and his needs at all. Talk to him. Hear him out. It’s time to let down this wall you’ve built around you.” Jeremy made a knocking motion in the air in front of me.

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