Page 70 of Gluttony
“So...” He rolled off her to rest on his elbow and stare openly. “It’s about us.”
How could she tell him that where he was concerned, she’d always have doubts? He was an actor, and supremely good looking. He’d done nothing to demonstrate his philandering would continue. He’d done quite the opposite, but the truth was she’d known him longer as a playboy than as a faithful partner. Maybe this was about her. The moment she’d woken in his room, and realized her usual carefully structured rules of engagement had gone out the window, she’d become anxious.
She was changing too.
“Babe?” He trailed his fingers along her arm. “Are you okay?”
She hugged her sheet. “I don’t know. A lot is happening and I’m still trying to process.”
His eyes narrowed. “About us... not last night.”
“You know, for someone who receives a lot of attention, you’re very perceptive of others.”
“I’m an actor. It’s my job to read people and then become them.”
Taking a deep breath, Bailey held it, then let it out. “I’m afraid, I guess.”
“Of me? I’ll never hurt you.”
“I know you’ll never do it intentionally, but you don’t have a great track record of staying with one person.”
He sighed and rolled onto his back, joining her in studying the ceiling. “I know,” he admitted.
Honesty. Bailey hadn’t expected that. Maybe a joke, or two, but not an admission.
“I like you, Tony,” she said, trying for her own truth. “I like you a lot. You’re not what I expected. Tell me I’m wrong, that the partying and the women were a front, and I’ll feel better. Was it all a front, another cover to protect your secret?”
“No.”
Disappointment lodged in her throat. Okay.
“But.” He paused for such a long time, that Bailey thought he’d gone back to sleep, but then he started speaking with his brows drawing together. “It’s a front for something.”
She sat up to try to gauge his expression. He looked nervous.
“Tony?”
“I—uh...” He licked his lips and his cheeks darkened.
“Hey,” she said softly and trailed her finger down his arms. “You can tell me anything.”
“I always think I’m going to fuck things up,” he said and gripped the sheet in his fist. “So I partied and screwed around so I’d never had to worry about disappointing anyone.”
Her heart ached for him.
“Parker used to be so perfect. He was a hard act to follow. But I had my looks, and people outside the family seemed to just do what I asked if I smiled a certain way. It sounds stupid, but it was a relief to not have that pressure. And then, with my sin, it just kind of all snowballed.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way,” she whispered. “For the record, I think you sell yourself short.”
He scrubbed his face, as if he could scrub away his deep thoughts, and then lifted his gaze to meet hers. “Bailey, I didn’t know everything tasted like cardboard until I met you. Nothing I did back then makes sense now.” His eyes turned dark as they caressed her form. “You make me both hungry and sated at the same time. I can’t explain it.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I think you’re doing a good job. Continue.”
With a smug curve of his sensuous lips, and a glint in his eye, he shuffled closer and lowered his tone. “You make me want, Bailey Haze. You make me want to be the guy who chases the girl. I’m not going to leave you alone.”
Strong hands tugged her closer. He dropped his lips to the side of her neck, bringing delicious tickles all down her body.
She giggled and rolled into him. “Oh, damn. You made me the girl who giggles when her boyfriend kisses her.”
