Page 22 of Beautiful Vengeance
He’d known she was pissed.He’d done it on purpose.“I don’t lie, not when it comes to sex.”Only everything else.“If you go and get your heart broken, it won’t be because I filled your head with false promises.”
She blinked and then laughed, the sound harsh.“Oh myGod, could you be any more arrogant?If you remember,Iam the one who invited you in last night.Yes, I invited you to stay, but I’m prepared to chalk that up to temporary insanity.I like how you make my body feel—that’s the sum of it.I’m not ready to date anyone right now, and even if I was, I certainly wouldn’t dateyou.”
That should reassure him.It was exactly what he wanted, after all.
Instead, it made him fucking furious.
He glared at her, half-surprised when she glared right back.Sloan shook her head.“Coming here was a mistake.”She started to get up, but he hooked the band of her yoga pants and pulled her down.She ended up straddling him with a hiss of fury.“I dislike you intensely.”
“No, you don’t.”He palmed her ass, sliding her forward so she rode the ridge of his cock.“Youdislikefeeling out of control.Guess what, sunshine.You don’t get control when it comes to fucking me.”
Her nipples pebbled, showing through her thin tank top.They teased him even as she put her hands on his chest, her fingers kneading him and making him think of a kitten who had just discovered her claws.“And if I want control?”
“You don’t.”He wrapped one arm around her waist and used his free hand to palm her over her pants.“I’ve barely touched you and you’re so fucking wet, you’re practically panting for me.”
“You areinsufferable.”But she rolled her hips, rubbing herself against his hand.“I’m leaving.”
“No, you’re not.You’re going to stay here and let me lick that pretty pussy of yours until you come.”He lightly pinched her clit through the fabric, watching her face.She liked the slightest bit of pain, if the way her eyes went heavy lidded was anything to go by.“And then I’m going to bend you over this couch and take what’s mine.”Until you forget why you were frightened in the first place tonight.
He wanted to hear her say yes.For all his pushing her, if she actually wanted to leave, he wasn’t about to stop her.Shewantedhim to push her, to corner her, to let her pretend she wasn’t making this decision every step of the way.Fuck that.He gripped her hips, lifting her and standing her on her feet.She blinked, obviously confused.“I thought…”
Jude unbuttoned his jeans, drawing the zipper down, his gaze never leaving hers.“You thought I’d take what we both know you want to give me?Newsflash, sunshine—I might get off on the lady protesting too much, but that only goes so far.We both know you want to be here the same way you wanted me there last night, even if your pride is still pissed that I left instead of cuddling you like some soft-hearted asshole.
“You want to leave, leave.I’m not going to chase you down and club you over the head, no matter how much I want you.”
She swayed a little.“That’s not fair.”
“What’s not fair is how goddamn hard I am for you.I watched your little yoga show this afternoon—don’t even pretend you didn’t know because I saw you shooting looks this way.Seeing that pert little ass of yours in the air, like you were offering yourself to me, and not being able to take what I wanted?”He grabbed her hand and pressed it against his cock.“I’ve been like this for hours.Because of you.”
“Because of me?”She didn’t take her hand away even after he let her go.
“Don’t play coy.It doesn’t suit you.You know you were teasing me on purpose.I wanted to tell the blonde to get lost and play with you right there.How long do you think you could hold downward dog with my mouth on your pussy?”
Her whole body shivered, her hand clenching around his cock.Sloan’s brows slanted down.“You’re doing it again.That thing where I should slap you across your face for talking to me the way you do.”
“Do it.”Jude took her free hand and set it against his cheek.“But whatever you’re going to do, if you’re not leaving, then get those fucking pants off.I’m starving for you.”He flashed her a grin, even though he didn’t feel the least bit amused.“If it will make you feel better, you can pretend you don’t have a choice in the matter, but we both know that’s a fucking lie.You want me as much as I want you.”
***
Sloan almost gave in.With his length in her hand and his whiskers scraping against her other palm, she already ached in a way she was coming to fear only he could assuage.The things Jude did to her made her weak in the knees, and with him challenging her with his dark chocolate eyes, she wanted nothing more than to climb into his lap and let him chase away the last of the fear clinging to her.
But she hadn’t left her entire life behind to hand over what little freedom she had to another man.
She took one step back, and then another.“You’re wrong.I don’t want to give up control.”
“If you say so.”His tone told her exactly whathethought.That she was biddable.A sure thing.Meek.Everything that Sloan used to be.
She wasn’t that woman anymore.She refused to be.
So she took another step back.The way he eyed the distance between them made her body spark, as if he’d cross it in a bound and take her to the floor.She wanted him to…but it wouldn’t solve anything and, when they were done, she’d still be left with a different kind of ache.One he’d told her multiple times that he couldn’t—wouldn’t—be responsible for.
She reached the front door, hesitating.Even though the feeling of danger had passed, the thought of going back to her empty house left her cold.Or perhaps that was the fact that she’d put half a house between her and Jude and, without the warmth of his big hands on her, the entire world seemed a little bit colder.She clutched the doorknob, her heart beating too fast.Lay the terms out.You don’t want this to end, but he can’t run the whole show.You can’t let it happen like that.
Sloan lifted her chin, faking a confidence she didn’t feel in the least.“I want you, that much is true.”
“I know.”
She ignored him.“But even if this is temporary, I want it onmyterms.”
