Page 32 of A Little Broken

I tumble after her, my cock spurting inside her tight little body until my arms give out and I collapse on top of her. It’s like she’s sucked every last piece of me, leaving me bone dry, exhausted, and so damn satiated, I’m pretty sure I can officially die a happy man.

My breath is unsteady as I try to slow my racing pulse, but I feel like I just finished a marathon.

Now where’s my gold medal? Oh, wait…

With a smile, I kiss the crown of Tatum’s head. “Stay.”

Her lips brush against my Adam’s apple, then she settles back into the cushions. “Promise me something. Something else,” she clarifies, referring to her non-negotiable one-time-only clause before I entered her.

“How come you’re the only one who’s allowed to make requests?” I challenge. My fingertips drag along her sides as I savor her silky skin beneath me. “Stay with me tonight.”

“Quit smoking.”

I lift my head and look down at her. “What?”

“Promise me you’ll quit smoking.”

My eyes widen.

I’ve had women ask me a lot of shit, but no one’s ever asked me to quit smoking. If anything, they ask for a hit after I light up, and I usually give it to them.

A sheen of indecision glazes her pretty eyes as she forces herself to look at me. It cuts straight through me, nearly knocking me on my ass despite the fact that she’s very much still pinned beneath me on the couch.

“You’re right about the good dying young, Pax,” she whispers. “And I know you don’t know me. I know I have no say in what you do with your life. I know you’re an untouchable rockstar, but…you should quit.” She sniffs and licks her lips again, her focus dropping to my chin, like she can’t even look at me anymore, and fuck if it doesn’t hurt. And even though I can literally feel her pulling away, part of me wonders if this is the first time I’ve really seen the gorgeous girl named Tatum since meeting her tonight. Dropping her tone even softer, she adds, “You should quit for yourself. For your fans. For the people who love you. Okay?”

Pushing her hair away from her face, I lean forward and kiss the tip of her nose in hopes of dissipating the little dark cloud that popped up out of nowhere. “Stay with me, and I will.”

She shakes her head. “That’s not fair.”

“Why not?”

Her soft body stiffens, and she pulls away, pushing her head even further into the couch cushions behind her. “Because we promised one night.”

“So?”

“So, if I stay, this…whatever this is, will bleed into two, and I’m sorry, but I can’t let that happen.”

Disappointment surges through me, but I hold my ground. “Why not?”

Something clouds her pretty gaze before she states the obvious. “Because you’re a rockstar.”

“So?” I repeat.

“So, you’re a rockstar and I’m… Pax, I’m no one.” She slips out from beneath me and reaches for her clothes. “I’m not even a groupie. I’m just…some girl you hooked up with after a concert one time. Add me to the list, am I right?”

The accusation cuts, but I shove the feeling aside. “So, because I’ve done this before, you refuse to stay the night?”

She slips her shirt over her head. “I refuse to stay the night because I’m not interested in…anything else.”

“Well, fuck.” I force a laugh and squeeze the back of my neck as she shifts her skirt into place. “Talk about a blow to the ego.”

She smirks. “I think you’ll survive.”

“Don’t be so sure,” I mutter, sliding the condom off, tying a small knot at the end, and tossing it in the trash. “Can I at least have your number?”

“No.”

I jerk back, trying not to be offended, though it isn’t exactly easy. Not when she seems so distant and unaffected. “Why not?” I ask.