Page 110 of Rough Around the Hedges

I smirked. “Since when did I say things I didn’t mean?”

24

ROSE

Sneaky Bastard

Ilooked up as Oliver walked in from the bathroom, securing a towel around his waist. I glared at him, and he raised one eyebrow in question.

“What’s that look for?” he asked, running his hand through his hair. “Three orgasms not enough for you, princess?”

I wanted to wring his neck every time he called me that.

I was hoping that he’d give up if I stopped whinging about it, so I was letting it pass for now.

He was going to call me ‘princess’ whether I liked it or not, so it was just better if I saved my energy for a battle that I stood a chance at winning.

“This is not what I came here for. I came for Bertha.” I eyed the dildo on the bedside table.

Well, at least he hadn’t used it. Not that he hadn’t tried, but after a swift explanation that Bertha is a tool, not a toy, he gave up and used himself instead.

“I said I’d give it to you—I never specified what it was I was giving.”

Semantics, semantics.

“And, once again, you consented.”

Oh, look, more semantics.

“I never said I didn’t,” I grumbled, leaning over and reaching for my phone. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re a fucking animal? I can’t believe I had to run away from you just to make you stop groping me.”

“Run away? Rose, you locked the bloody bathroom door. From the outside.” He sat on the bed next to me, fixing me with an amused look. “Not your finest moment.”

“I panicked. I might break if we have sex again.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Must you?” I muttered. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

He grabbed my phone out of my hand and put it back on the bedside table, then climbed over me, lacing his fingers through mine and pressing my hands against the headboard so I couldn’t escape. “Do I have to keep going until you compliment me?”

“I don’t think you have enough stamina to fuck me until I compliment you,” I said, completely deadpan.

Oliver stared for a moment before laughing out loud. “I feel like that has less to do with my stamina and more to do with your lack of intent to compliment me.”

“You’re a smart cookie.”

“Hey, look at that—a compliment!”

Shit.

“It was sarcastic,” I drawled. “If I compliment you, then you might accidentally think I like you. That would be a tragedy.”

He grinned, drawing his face closer to mine. “The worst thing ever.”

My heart skipped at his wide smile, and I waved our clasped hands. “Move. I need to pee.”

With a chuckle, Oliver rolled off me and dropped onto the other side of the bed. I got up and shuffled into the adjoining bathroom, flapping my hand in front of me to disperse some of the steam left from his shower.

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