Page 75 of A Little Broken

“And us showing up on your patio was going to cause an explosion?”

He stays quiet, his jaw flexing as his eyes fall to my cleavage.

“You still want me,” I realize. “That’s why you convinced Roman to bring me here. It’s why you’re offering your cock since any will do. Am I right?”

His gaze cuts to mine. “I want to know why you keep lying to me.”

“It’s cute that you want to be the exception.”

“It’s cute that you think I’mnotthe exception,” he tosses back at me. “Why were you nervous when Roman unzipped your dress?”

I flinch away, caught off guard by the subject change and how easily he read me. “I wasn’t nervous.”

“Guilty then,” he clarifies.

“Why would I feel guilty?”

His brows raise. “You tell me.”

My mouth presses into a hard line, and I shake my head, annoyed with how easily this man seems to get under my skin.

The truth is, I’ve always hated it. The guilt I carry from every fucking touch. Like I’m betraying Archer or even Paxton or…myself. There’s nothing wrong with hooking up with strangers.But when your heart belongs to someone else—someone who’s in the fucking grave and never wanted it in the first place—it’s a different kind of ache. One that makes me feel…pathetic.

“This has been fun,” I announce. “Watching you try to manipulate me into getting what you want, but I’m going to go.”

“I didn’t say you could leave?—”

“And I didn’t ask permission,” I quip. “You don’t own me.”

“Don’t I?” He smirks. “Because I’m pretty sure I’m your boss, and from the digging I had Roman do, I know you don’t live off your parents’ money?—”

“You had Roman look into me?”

I can’t decide if I’m more pissed or impressed, although if I ever see Roman again, he’s getting a swift knee to the balls for dragging me here under false pretenses, that’s for sure.

“I would’ve gone to the source,” he adds, “but since I don’t have your number…”

Smartass.

Moving closer, I almost brush my lips against his, but stop at the last second. “No amount of money will ever be enough to own me.” I pull back. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.” The ground is cool beneath my feet as I step out of the hot tub, my satisfaction at gaining the upper hand pulsing through me. He can say and think whatever he wants about me, but the truth is, he has no idea who I am, and I have every intention of keeping it that way, even if he is my boss.

Paxton stands, gifting me with the perfect view of his rippling abs as the water trails down them. “Your ride’s gone,” he says, as if I need the reminder.

“Duh.”

The ocean air kisses my wet skin, and I head toward my clothes on the back patio while Paxton stares at my ass. I can feel it. The way he’s simmering like the water. Hot and bothered. Frustrated. It only makes me sway my hips more. Becauseeven though he might’ve temporarily gained the upper hand by getting me here, with a gentle roll of my hips, I’m taking it back, and it’s addictive as hell. Folding at the waist, I pick my clothes up, then face him again, letting him have his fill of my half-naked body as if I’m dangling a carrot in front of a horse like Rory joked earlier.

Look all you want, buddy, but this will never be yours. Not again.

“That’s very kind of you to point out my lack of a ride,” I reply, “but I’m sure I’ll figure something out. Hell, maybe I'll hitchhike. After all, any cock will do, and I haven’t been laid yet.” I flip him off over my shoulder. “Goodnight, Pax.”

“Call me boss,” he corrects me.

I snort and keep on walking. “You’re lucky I didn’t call you an asshole,asshole.”

As I round the corner of his house, I try not to lose my nerve while considering my options. Because yes, I could most definitely hitchhike, but actually going through with it while being half-naked feels like a bad idea. Scratch that. It doesn’t feel like it, itisa bad idea. Period. So where does it leave me? Confirming I’m out of sight from the hot tub, I struggle into my dress. The red silk sticks to my damp body like a second skin, making it almost impossible to get the material over my hips, let alone cover my torso. I really should’ve dried off before putting this on, but here we are. Adjusting the fabric across my chest, I look down, realizing the red is already bleeding onto my lacy white bra.

Fantastic.

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