Page 129 of Dangerous Encore
"Or I could pin you tothebed."
God damn, the man is giving me all kinds ofideas.
He pulls me closer. "You're irresistible. I'm not going to let anyone make you feel less than. Not aboutanything."
"Okay,but…"
"You won'tcancel?"
"I'm sorry, Mal, but I have to be sure." I look up at him. "You think I'm an idiot,don'tyou?"
"No."
"I guess you enjoy mymasochisticside."
He chuckles. "Ido."
"But you're the only one who gets tohurtme?"
"You asking other guys tospankyou?"
"You know I'dnever."
"I know." He places his palm against my cheek. "I don't want to see you hurt, baby. But if this is what you need, I'll bethere."
Inod.
ThisiswhatIneed.
I wish itwasn't.
I thought I was over this. I thought I was happy with my decision to cut ties with my mom. To cut out my dad if he refused to stop theoh, you didn't want your mom to come to dinner with usbullshit.
Iguessnot.
"You're not stupid, baby. Don't think that shit about yourself." He strokes my temple with his thumb. "You'rebrave."
"Yeah?"
"The bravest person I know." He pulls me onto his lap. One hand slides under my t-shirt and plants on my lower back. The other cups the back of my head. "That's what I admire mostaboutyou."
"Not my obsession withmovies?"
"That's second place." He leans in to brush his lipsagainstmine.
God, hetastesgood.
And his kiss turns off the voice screamingwhy are you doing this? Are you anidiot?
I wrap my legs around hiswaist.
I dig my hands intohishair.
And I kiss him like the ship isgoingdown.
My body turns on, bitbybit.
The tension in my shoulderseases.
