Page 17 of The Inkslinger

“Hailey.” He sighs. “I don’t know what to think. You’re clearly not in a good place after seeing Derick.”

Finishing off my margarita, I slam the glass on the counter.

“I was fine. I even intended to go to work at the job I have only had for a day. But you interfered. And Damien, your little brother,” I spit the last words at him. “He was trying to distract me from driving down to House of Ink and shoving my foot up your ass.”

“What?”

Angry laughter slips from my lips. “Did you think Adam would be okay with me working tonight and possibly bringing my drama to his bar? You may actually be as stupid as I think.”

“I am trying to protect you! We all are.”

“I didn’t ask for and I don’t need your protection. I’m not your woman!”

We are yelling at each other, both of our chests heaving with anger. I don’t know when it happened, but we have moved around the kitchen and are standing face to face, glaring at each other.

“You can’t handle being my woman,” he says with a glare. “You haven’t had a real man in your whole life.”

“You couldn’t handle me, Laine,” I bite back, putting my hands on my hips.

“Wanna bet?”

Chapter Ten

Wanna Bet?

Laine

I slam my lips down on hers and tangle a hand in her hair. She doesn’t resist, kissing back with just as much passion. In the span of twenty-four hours this woman has flipped my entire life upside down. She drives me nuts but having her in my arms right now makes it all worth it.

Again, I use her hair to angle her head the way I want it, ensuring that I can delve deeper. I want to consume Hailey until I can no longer tell where I end or she begins. The taste of tequila and margarita mix explodes across my senses.

Hailey’s body melts against mine, pressing her barely covered full breasts against my chest as she wraps her arms around my neck. Heat rushes through my veins, my arousal spiking, driving me forward. It only takes three steps to have her pressed against the kitchen counter. My hand leaves her hair so I can grab both globes of her full ass and lift her onto the flat surface.

Neither of us wants to end the kiss, and when I try to pull away, she clings to the fabric of my t-shirt. A sound of discontent bubbles up from within her, and I can’t hold back my chuckle. Cupping her face in my hands, I stare down at her once we stop kissing.

“Hailey, I know you said I’m just your fake boyfriend, but I need to know how real this moment is.” I stare into her eyes, trying to gauge how drunk she is. “You told me not to kiss you in private, but it feels like we both want this.”

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