Page 74 of A Little Broken

Folding my arms over my boobs barely covered by my wet, lacy bra, I drop back into the water, using it to camouflage me. “Okay, look. I’m sorry I trespassed. I didn’t know…”

“Didn’t know this place belonged to me?” He doesn’t wait for my response. “You know, this is twice now that I've caught you trying to trespass. Is it a habit of yours or…?”

“I’d say no, but you wouldn’t believe me, anyway.” I force a smile despite the panic growing in my gut. “Although, if we’re going to discuss technicalities, your friend invited me, so…”

“He did, didn’t he?” Pax chuckles. “I would’ve done it myself, but it seems I misheard your number the other night.”

I start to stand again. “I should get going?—”

He grasps my hand. “Stay.”

I look down at his calloused fingers encompassing my wrist. His grip isn’t firm by any means. I’m sure he’d let me go if I moved away from him. But I can’t convince my body to listen. To move. Instead, I simply…stare.

“Why?” I lick my lips. “Why do you want me to stay?”

“Because you were obviously here to get laid?—”

“Pretty sure that ship sailed the moment you scared my date away.”

“It doesn’t have to,” he returns, matter-of-factly.

My gaze flicks to his, and I realize he isn’t trying to seduce me. He’s trying to poke the bear. To make me feel guilty for hooking up with him. For playing him like a fiddle. For showing up in his jacuzzi with the intention of doing the same thing with his friend. The irony isn’t lost on me, considering Pax is the one who set this whole thing up in the first place. I challenge, “You think any cock will do?”

“I think we had fun the first time…until you told me you were engaged.”

I roll my eyes, annoyed, though I can’t decide if it’s because of Pax’s comment, the fact that I was manipulated into beinghere, or if it’s because a simple, innocent touch by the bastard is making goosebumps break out along my skin despite the hot water I’m currently standing in—both figuratively and literally.

“You’re never gonna let that go, are you?” I seethe.

Removing his hand from my wrist, he grips the back of the hot tub with his arms spread wide. “Then there was the bonfire, where you sucked me off before giving me a fake number. That was a really good time. For me at least. Have you used the memory to touch yourself, yet?”

I scoff. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

Yes.

“Tell me, are you even really my maid or did you break into my house just to fuck with my head again?”

I laugh, despite myself. “You know, for once, I wish you were onto something because that would’ve been priceless, but no.”

“You sure?” he questions.

I shrug, and my bra strap slips off my shoulder, making the cup gape for the barest of seconds. I yank it back into place. “Call it a happy coincidence.”

He gives me a slow nod, dragging his gaze from my left boob to my face again. “You know, I’d say I believe you, but considering your track record…”

My hand fists beneath the steamy surface as I fight the urge to slap the bastard. He really is infuriating. But what’s worse is his nonchalance about the whole thing. How does he do it? He’s clearly not afraid to call me out on my bullshit, but he’s also acting like he isn’t pissed about any of it. Which is…confusing.

He isn’t the first person I’ve lied to. But, other than family, he is the first to stick around instead of giving me the middle finger and disappearing from my life entirely.

So, why did he go through the effort to bring me here?

Unable to stifle my curiosity, I dip my body back into the water, sit, and inspect the man across from me. And he lets me.Without a need to fill the silence or shy away from my blatant perusal of every inch of his skin. Hell, he basks in it. The silence. The charged air. The interest I have no doubt is rolling off me as I look at him. “Did you bribe Roman to bring me here?” I ask.

The water ripples around him as he shrugs, looking far sexier than he has any right to, considering the circumstances. “Didn’t need to.”

“Why?”

“He’s a friend who…” Pax scratches the scruff of his jaw, his movement causing a tiny ripple across the surface. “Likes to watch things explode.”

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