Page 45 of Reckless Games

The vision of myself through Adam’s eyes nearly shatters me.

“I won’t be ready to say goodbye to you at the end of the week,” he says, holding me close. “But I will. Because the things you deserve are bigger than all the money in my bank account could buy you.”

“I—” I don’t know what to say.

A man who doesn’t show people his vulnerabilities splits himself open for me. I wrap my arms around his neck, and to my surprise, he lets me. He doesn’t stop my fingers roaming his hair or how we’re so close our noses brush.

“All I can give you is this week,” he says again, looking almost broken at his confession.

I tip up on my toes to bring my mouth to his. “Then let’s both not think about it.”

The corner of his mouth ticks up. “What’s your limit, Lake?”

I’ve never loved my name as much as I do hearing it from Adam’s lips.

“You still haven’t reached it,” I whisper. “What’s yours, Adam?”

He scans my face, focusing on my lips parting as I try to steady my racing heart. Knowing it’s an impossible task in his arms.

“You are.” His lips crash to mine.

His fingers tighten on my back, and he pulls me close. He holds me to him like he’s fighting for survival.

I wrap my arms tighter and seal us together. I hand him my heart with my kiss. A man who no doubt hurts most things he touches.

Adam’s kiss shouldn’t feel like a promise when a future can’t exist. But as he melts his lips to mine, I’m lost in the possibility of what this can never be. I hold a man who doesn’t want to love, and I give him a piece of me anyway.

He pulls back and the distance is endless. I can’t catch my breath as I stare into his stormy eyes, wrecking me. And as they do, something shifts in his expression that makes me wonder if I’m also breaking him.

A man who doesn’t want to be touched, in my hands.

“Take me to your room, Adam.” I rake my fingers through the short hair on the back of his head. “I don’t want to think anymore.”

No good comes from it anyway.

14

Lakeyn

Adam’sroomisdimlylit when we arrive. The curtains are drawn to reveal the snowy forest, lit with a full moon in the sky. Adam strips himself of his jacket and tie, hanging them on the back of a chair as I make my way toward his bed.

“What is that?” I point to the small black box sitting on the blanket.

Adam stops beside me, leaning against one of the bedposts. “Open it and find out.”

It’s small, and when I pick up the box, it's smooth like velvet, similar to the invitation I received on my doorstep. Popping open the lid, a familiar gold object inside sends a shiver down my spine.

“How did you know?”

When Stella and I were perusing sex toys earlier, I picked up this anal plug, but I wasn’t brave enough to actually take it back to my room with me. I’ve never used toys with a partner before Adam, and I’ve never done anything back there.

“I know everything that happens in these walls, Lake.” Adam moves behind me, skimming the pads of his fingers down my bare arms. “You were curious.”

“You were watching.” It’s a fact, not an accusation.

While it should bother me—or scare me—all the thought does is send my stomach spinning with excitement. Because Adam can’t take his eyes off me, and right now I don’t want him to.

“Why didn’t you keep it?” Adam asks, rubbing his hands up and down my arms. “You wanted to.”

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