Page 52 of Secrets & Lies

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.What was all that about?

I held my tongue as I gently guided her over to the car, a flicker of unease taking over. The weight of the unspoken and overreaction lingered between us, leaving me dumbfounded and unsettled.

The gnawing in the pit of my stomach told me something about cars and being thrown in one against her will wasn’t an irrational phobia. It must have stemmed from something in her past. The car accident? I was startled when I heard Marcus speak.

“Ms. Taylor.” He smiled at her.

“Please don’t lock the door, Marcus,” she said.

He nodded as if it was a perfectly normal request. She climbed into the car and scooted all the way to the side, hugging the door. Her eyes fixed on the lock.

“Kinsley,” I called out. “The car will automatically lock once Marcus puts it in drive, but you’ll be able to unlock it, I promise.”

An odd sort of weariness colored her eyes, but she finally nodded. The short drive to her house was spent in silence, and the minute he put the car into park, she jumped out.

“Stop, kotyonok, please. We need to talk.” I hurried to catch up to her. Once I reached her, I dug out the card and handed it back to her. She stared at me blankly.

“I never said you were a whore.” I pushed her hair back away from her face.

“No, you said you would make me your bitch,” she whispered, looking around.

Before I could say anything, she continued. “You bought me lingerie. Why would you do that if you didn’t expect that I was…that I would sleep with you?” She finally turned her eyes toward me, and her conflicting emotions mirrored mine.

“I bought you something I thought you’d look sexy as hell in. Now, whether you let me see you in it or not wasn’t the point.”

“So you don’t intend to fuck me? Is that what you’re saying now? Make up your mind. You’re confusing as hell.”

“I’mconfusing as hell? That’s rich, kotyonok.”

I wanted to pull her into my arms and wipe away the look of sadness on her face, then bend her over and smack her ass red for making me so conflicted. The strange hold she had on me could only be chalked up to the chase. She was making me work for this every step of the way.

“If I agree to go to dinner with you, will you leave me alone after?” Her innocent eyes flicked to mine, and I couldn’t help but smile.

Yes, finally.

“Yes, it’s all I ask, and no expectations other than dinner and, maybe, another dance.”

Yeah, right, my dick said as it throbbed with need for her. She needed slow, and for some crazy, unknown reason, I would play along. I’d have to tell her it was an actual full-weekend date, but in my elation, I didn’t want to take a chance she’d back out.

The kick-off event was a dinner on Friday that was being held for several charities my brothers and I were partial to. The chief was a founding member of one, and it benefited women and children caught in domestic violence situations.

Saturday was a tour of several of the Willamette Valley Wineries. It ended with a day trip that included visiting Tamanawas Falls at Mount Hood National Forest on Sunday.

I’d tell her the night of the date. If she decided she didn’t want to attend, I’d bring her home. The plan was to behave and get her to see how charming I could be. If I played my cards right, maybe, just maybe, she’d end up in my bed. And if my cock was buried in her pussy, all the better.

“Fine, but I wear my own clothes.” She crossed her arms, and her usual spirit flooded back into her eyes.

“Sorry, kitten, but on this one, I’m going to insist that you wear the dress I bought you.” I snapped my fingers at Marcus, who was casually watching the exchange between us.

“Ms. Taylor’s packages, please.”

Marcus shoved off the car and went to the trunk with a huge grin.

“Leave the lingerie, Marcus. It won’t be necessary,” she called out, peeking around me. She turned back. “I’m not wearing lingerie for you, and stop using the wordinsist. It’s overbearing.”

She had no clue how overbearing I could be. Not to mention how much I was tempering myself with her.

“Yet. You aren’t wearing lingerie for meyet. But you got yourself a deal. Look at us negotiating like adults.” I smirked.

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