Page 64 of Broken Deal

“I’m not going to repeat myself. You’re either in or you’re out.”

“You’re going to have to repeat it. Matter of fact, I never gave you my condition for all the questions you asked me. So this is it. You need to answer my question.What.Did.You.Just.Say?” I ask, pronouncing each word with gritted teeth, my grip on her tightening.

“Friends with benefits with an expiration date. We could break it off the weekend we’re supposed to go to Las Vegas with the group, at the end of August. I should be done writing the article by then, so it makes perfect sense,” she replies confidently, but her voice quivers slightly in the end. “We have fun with zero attachments. No falling in love. Just two people having casual sex.”

“You’re serious,” I murmur more to myself than her.

She grimaces, expecting my answer. I’m trying to calm my fast-beating heart and the painful erection I have at the mere thought of entering this deal. I want to shoutYes! For the love of God, yes!but not without making sure this is exactly what she wantsandneeds.

She abruptly stands from the hammock, swatting my hand away from her waist. “I can’t believe I did this again. Forget I said anything.” She storms away back to the inside of the villa.

I rise to my feet, but the annoying blanket wraps aroundme, causing me to stumble and land on the grass. That doesn’t stop me from untangling myself as quickly as possible and running after her. Finally catching up, I grab her by the arm and turn her around. “What is the matter with you? You can’t drop this bomb on me and then walk away!”

She pulls out of my grip, throwing her arms wide as a frustrated groan comes out of her. “Again with the bullshit! Are you seriously shocked? You’re telling me right now you’re not attracted to me? What are all these mixed signals you’ve been giving me, then? Another sick game of yours?”

I grip the bridge of my nose, biting the inside of my cheek, mulling it over for a moment as I try to muster a response that doesn’t make me sound so desperate. I more than want her. Ineedher. One more night, multiple—whatever she needs. I’ll take whatever she’s willing to give me at this point.

“Of course, I’m attracted to you. But I told you, if we’re doing this it’s because you want to. Because you’re ready to give in, and you’re ready for the consequences.” I close the gap between us, placing both of my hands on the back of her neck, gripping it softly and forcing her to look at me in the eyes. “Once we do this, there is no going back, Blue. I will ruin other men for you, and honestly? You will ruin other women for me, too.”

What I don’t tell her is that she already did, over a year ago. She ruined me so badly, I should be running away instead of entertaining this. But fuck, I will let her ruin me over and over again. I’ll embrace the burn. I will hand her the fucking match myself and help her get away with it.

It’s not lost on me either that I’m slowly, for once in my life, allowing someone in. What I did back there, in the kitchen? Confess what I’ve been keeping inside for so long?Out of character for me. It should terrify me, giving her more ammunition to destroy me, but I couldn’t give less of a fuck right now. She can do whatever she wants. My life is in her hands, she just doesn’t know it yet.

She doesn’t say anything, just holds her intense gaze on me, the fire in her eyes still imminent.

I tighten my hold on her. “What’s it going to be?”

She remains silent. And with every second that passes, the need I have for her grows, my body itching to kiss her. My heart twisting in my chest as I wait for the magic words.

Please say yes.

Her hand moves to the back of my head, her fingers threading through my hair and giving it a gentle tug. The sensation of her delicate touch makes me roll my eyes with a low groan.

“Ruin me,” she whispers breathlessly. “I dare you.”

She barely gets the words out before I’m crashing my lips on hers. It’s a punishing kiss, too. One I’ve been dying to give her since the last time we kissed. I flick my tongue across her bottom lip, and she moans, opening her mouth slightly and letting me own her. My hands find her hips, and I guide her backward until her back hits the kitchen island. I frantically hoist her up as our lips are still connected—kissing, nipping, and licking. Not wasting a second even though we’re running out of breath. I fist her hair and give myself access to her neck, desperately tracing kisses and marking every inch of skin my lips and teeth graze over. She tugs my hair, her fingers playing with it as she wraps her legs around me, bringing me even closer.

“You need to take that fucking shirt off,now,” she demands, her chest heaving, her peaked nipples visible underneath the thin fabric of her dress.

With a soft laugh, I take a step back, creating somedistance between us against my will as I pull the hem of my shirt and take it off. Her eyes ignite with fire while she starts tracing my abdomen, her hand traveling upwards until it lands on my chest.

“I’ve been dying to see how far your tattoos go,” she whispers, tracing them with her delicate fingers. The touch is soft, but it doesn’t make it any less electrifying.

“All you had to do was ask,” I say with a low chuckle, my hands roaming her smooth legs, causing her to shiver and break out in goosebumps.

“That easy, huh?” she asks with a playful tone, tugging at my gold chain softly, bringing me closer to her again.

I brush my lips against hers. “Yup. That easy.”

Before she can reply, my fingers find her already wet underwear, and I swiftly push them to the side, sliding two digits inside of her without any warning. She gasps through a moan, her head falling back as she wraps one arm around my neck, while her other continues to travel across my abdomen. Her feathery, explorative touch makes me shudder and become more addicted by the second. I never knew it was possible to be obsessed with something as simple as a touch, but with her, everything is better, brighter, and fucking perfect.

You’ve become obsessed with a lot of things lately. And all of them have to do with her.

“This is how it’s going to work,” I say in a hushed, husky tone, working my fingers in and out of her slowly. “While we’re doing this?” I curl my fingers, and that wins me another moan. The sound is so deliriously sexy, it goes straight to my dick, making it painfully hard. “You will listen to me. You’re going to be a good girl, enjoy yourself, and let me thoroughly fuck you. If I catch even wind of that sassy mouth of yours, there are going to be consequences.”

“What are those consequences?” Her question comes out desperate, in between breathless moans.

My girl is already coming undone before me, and I’m just getting started. I meant what I said—I will ruin every other man for her. When she fucks another, she will think of me. When they kiss her pouty lips, savor her sweet skin and pussy, all she’s going to be able to do is think of me, my mouth, my fingers, my cock. I close my eyes for a brief moment, trying my best to push away the thought of another man exploring her. She’s mine—for as long as she lets me have her. And fuck, I’m going to do everything in my power to make it last.

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