Page 15 of Reckless Games

“Why?”

“Because I’d rather talk about you.” He plants his hand on the wall beside my head, leaning in close.

After dating someone who lied to me for half of our relationship, I’m well aware of what it looks like when a man is hiding something.

“So that’s it then? You can fuck me, but I don’t get to know anything about you?”

Adam tilts his head to the side, and I’m not sure what he’s reading on my expression, but he looks puzzled. “It’s irrelevant to what we’re doing here.”

“Which is what exactly?” I roll my shoulders back and drop my hands to the sides. “I’m sorry, Adam, are my questions ruining your little sex party? You’d rather the women here be too busy screwing around to ask questions. It’s not like I’m asking for your life story. But the basics would be nice.”

“Fiery this morning.” He ignores my irritation, seeming amused by it instead. “You make quite a few assumptions in that busy mind of yours.”

“That’s what happens when I’m left to fill in the blanks.”

“I’m not trying to upset you.” He looks me over, his eyes pinching. “But I’m not nearly as interesting as you are, baby girl. So I’d rather keep this about you.”

I hate that my stomach flutters at his comment. It’s easier to stay angry with him than to hold onto whatever this is.

“What do you need?” Adam lifts a hand to my jaw, grazing his thumb over my cheek. “Clearly, I missed something.”

“Why do you care?”

“Because…” He trails his fingers along my jaw like he’s tracing me—memorizing me. “You’re mine.”

“I’m not anyone’s.”

“Whatever you say.” He smirks, definitely amused now and not believing me. “You need to shut that beautiful mind of yours off for a moment and trust me.”

“Because God forbid, I overanalyze this and ruin your fun?” Now I am being fiery. I feel it in my bones. Every instinct of mine pushing back against what Adam’s presence makes me want to do—submit.

“No.” He shakes his head. “Because you spend your whole life thinking. This week, you deserve not to.”

He says it like he knows me when he doesn’t.

“Turn off this beautiful mind for me. Let me spend the week thinking for you. Promise, I’ll make it worth your while.”

Adam drops his hand and takes a step back, the distance cool and endless as he does. I’m tempted to grab his shirt and pull him to me, but my cautious side makes me pause. He’s answered every question with a question. I know nothing real about this man except what he’s capable of doing to my body. Still, I can’t turn away.

“I’m sorry for leaving this morning without letting you know where I was going.”

His apology is sincere enough that I don’t know what to make of it. I’m overreacting for no reason. I have no claim over this man. But he doesn’t seem affected by the fact that I’m upset. Instead, he sounds genuinely sorry.

“Go, enjoy your breakfast, and I’ll find you later.” He grabs a strawberry off the fruit tray in the hallway beside us. Bringing it to my mouth. He must will me to open it because I do it without thinking, and he slides the strawberry in, running his thumb over my bottom lip. “Eat something substantial. Big day ahead. You’re going to need it.”

At that, he winks and walks away.

5

Adam

“Quitethegirlyou’vegot there.” Cillian stands tall with his arms crossed over his chest as I walk into the room. “Good to know someone is capable of ruffling your feathers.”

“What am I? A fucking bird?”

Cillian just chuckles, dropping into the chair on the other side of my desk, while I sit facing him. The irritating smirk still present as he stares at me because he’s not an idiot.

I’m royally fucked.

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