Page 21 of Arrogant and Merciless

“People will talk. They know I don’t belong in your world.”

“That might be what I like most about you, Taylor.” He says nothing more until he’s guided me to the bathroom. “I’ll wait for you out here.”

“I didn’t think you were coming in with me,” I joke, but he leans down and whispers in my ear:

“Don’t tempt me. In a bathroom stall or back in the box, all I need is a signal from you and I’ll take you right there, standing up.”

I nearly choke at his crude words but hide my shock—especially because, shamefully, I’m not offended; I’m turned on.

I lock myself in the stall, taking several deep breaths to calm down.

God, what have I gotten myself into? Does he think that just because of one kiss, the two of us...?

Or worse, is he assuming I’m that experienced?

I’m honest enough to admit that if there was ever a time in my twenty-three years I’d consider sleeping with a man who’s practically a stranger, it’s right now.

I’ve never met anyone who got under my skin the way he does. With a single kiss, he had me forgetting my own name.

I step out of the stall and see a few women waiting in line. Another three are touching up their lipstick at the mirror.

Only then do I realize my own lipstick is smudged.

I grab a tissue and discreetly wipe the corner of my mouth, but as I begin to reapply my lipstick, a tall blonde next to me—probably in her forties—says, “That was some kiss, honey. You forgot all about your lipstick.”

Despite my embarrassment, I can’t help smiling. “Yes, it was the best kiss of my life.”

Joking around like that helps me relax a little.

He’s gorgeous, powerful, but he’s still just a man of flesh and blood—even if his grandmother told me that her grandson and his two friends, who are also doctors and his partners, are nicknamed the “White Gods,” each being the top specialist in their field.

Live for tonight, girl,I tell myself, feeling bold.You’re overthinking this, as usual, Taylor. Just let it happen.

Exactly.

For one night, I’ll forget everything and dive into my “princess moment.”

Taylor

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Princess moment,did I say? If it happened, it passed in a heartbeat.

He doesn’t say another word or even look at me for the rest of the concert. I expect him to at least walk me back to the driver who brought me, maybe say goodbye, even if I have no clue what I’ve done wrong.

But just like when he led me to the restroom, he places his hand on my back, helps me into the car, and then settles in beside me.

The silence lasts another ten minutes.

“I could’ve taken an Uber,” I finally say, on the verge of asking the driver to stop and let me out. “It’s not exactly safe where I live at this hour.”

Sure, Uber would’ve wrecked my budget, but who cares? Anything beats sitting next to someone whose mind is clearly somewhere else.

“Do you want to go home?” he asks.

I turn to look at him, trying to understand what’s behind the question.

And I grasp it quickly.

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