Page 21 of All We Need

His chest rises and falls in quick succession, hot breath blowing through my hair.

This is becomingtoofun.Andit needs to end before it goes too far.

“Are you going to kiss me,Silver?”Thehairs along my arms stand to attention at his cool, seductive tone.

“Do you want me to?”Iwhisper. “Ifyou do, all you have to say is ‘please.’”

He raises his chin, our mouths now a hair’s breadth apart. “Idon’t beg, baby.ButIbet you’d look fucking stunning doing it.”

My body betrays me.Heatpools low and my nipples pucker.

ButIstill have the upper hand.

As if to taunt him one final time, my lips move to the right, ghosting over the spotIknow his precious dimple hides. “Ifyou expect me to get on my knees, you’re more deluded thanIthought,BoothSadler.Thisis a game you will not win.Believeme.”

I pluck the leather wallet from his grip and drag the corner down his smooth, defined jaw, triggering a shiver.There’san obvious bulge testing the confines of his pants.

My smile arches wickedly. “Betteryou give up now.”

His dilated pupils eat up his icy irises.Theydraw me in, like a strong tide at midnight.Everyoneknows not to go swimming once it goes dark, so beforeIcan get swept away,Iwithdraw.

He doesn’t move from his seat asIwalk away.Theburn of his gaze follows me across the room to the door.

With a brief glance over my shoulder, my tone less playful,Igive him a final warning. “Don’tunderestimate me.I’mnot some tourist you can pick up, play around with, and forget.Thereisn’t a gameIhaven’t won, andIhave a feeling you won’t like it whenIshow my true colors.Forfeitnow while you’re ahead.Please.”

That final syllable slips out, shaking the black and white board we’re playing on.

The pieces are tipping, dangerously close to resigning.

AsInod atJohannaon my way out of the restaurant after collecting my things,Ican’t tell if it’s the king or the queen.

CHAPTER SEVEN

booth

“If my tastebuds could orgasm, they would.”

I grimace along with my brothers as my sister finishes her bite of tuna tartare, smacking her lips together with gusto.

“Never say that again whileI’malive.”Patrickpretends to gag.

“Ditto,”Grahammumbles.

Laid out along one of the two large wooden tables in the restaurant are half a dozen plates—empty and virtually licked clean.Themenus are updated, ready to go out for tomorrow’s lunch service.Today’steam tasting allows for any final feedback on flavors and presentation, and is also a good excuse for us all to hang out.

We closed a couple of hours early for the occasion, and everyone—including my mom andJohanna’sdad,George—was here.Mostof the staff have headed over to the town’s one and only bar, where we’ll join them soon.

After that scene withAlessandrain the office, it’s clearIneed to get out of my head.

I’m not some tourist you can pick up, play around with, and forget.

Her proximity shouldn’t have affected me the way it did.Neithershould her rich scent; a little sweet and arousingly feminine.Fitting.Sheplayed me like a fiddle, andIwalked right into her trap, handing her the bow.

But dammit, it was fun.Atiny glimpse of her perky tits had all blood rushing south.Whenshe leaned in, and those curlsI’mdesperate to get my fingers tangled in crowded us and her plump lips grazed my cheek,Iabout died.Bythe time my brain rebooted, she was halfway across the room, leaving me with a warning and a raging hard-on.

I’m sadistic, becauseIthickened even more at her sassy threat.

Even thinking about her sultry voice turns me on.

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